Gallagher fires Devon into Connacht Junior Cup final

LOCAL SOCCER WRAP WITH MIKE RAFFERTY

Salthill Devon and Westport United will contest the Connacht Junior Cup Final in Castlebar on Sunday week, September 6 after last Sunday’s semi-finals saw the duo emerge from two close contests.

Devon had just an early Mikey Gallagher goal to show for all their efforts in their win over St Bernard’s; while West United conceded a last-minute equaliser against Westport United, who went on to defeat the South Park outfit on penalties, after the sides had finished level after extra time.

There was no joy either for Athenry in the FAI Junior Cup semi-final as they, like West, also went down in a penalty shootout, losing to Fairview Rangers in Limerick.

CONNACHT CUP SEMI-FINAL

West United  1

Westport United  1

(AET – Westport won 4-2 on pens)

West United were two minutes away from a Connacht Junior Cup final place when it all started to unravel in Eamonn Deacy Park on Sunday afternoon. A goal up courtesy of a close-range Keith Lee finish, they were not under any serious pressure until Philip Keegan got his head to a James O’Donnell corner to level matters and send the game to extra-time.

Added time did little to add to the quality of the game and so it took penalties to sort the issue. The visitors went first and the opening two spot-kicks were identical as both Keegan and Ronan Caldwell blazed their efforts well over the crossbar, before the visitors went on to comfortably slot home their remaining four efforts, through Darren Browne, Mikey O’Brien, James O’Donnell and Jack Murphy.

Derek O’Brien and Barry McEntee did likewise for the home side, but Oisin Connolly’s effort was saved by Gary Cunningham to ensure that Westport prevailed 4-2 and set them on the trail of their first provincial title since 2012, when they beat Athenry in the final.

Having come from behind to see off Carbury 2-1 in the quarter-finals, West were well set up for this game, as they chased a place in the decider for the first time in four seasons.

In a contest that did not reach the standard expected, chances were at a premium for the duration. Defences dominated, as strikers dropped deep and goalmouth action was scarce.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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