Renmore pay the penalty for failing to take chances

Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty

Renmore 1

Westport United 1

(Aet – Westport won 3-2 on pens)

“We left it behind” was the post-match reaction of Renmore player/manager Stuart Donoghue and in reality that is probably the polite version of his thought process after his side had kicked away their chance of advancing to the 4th Round of the Connacht Junior Cup.

Sure, they were lucky to secure a last-minute equaliser with a powerful Paddy Gannon header, but it was the least they deserved after dominating the majority of the game. However, the home side were a bit of a disaster in the penalty shoot-out, as two efforts were fired badly wide and another weak shot easily saved by Gary Cunningham in the Westport goal.

In fairness, it was the visiting custodian who was the difference between the sides throughout the game, making a series of saves to keep his side in the tie, as Renmore should have long been out of sight with all the chances they had.

In contrast, Westport – who last won the cup in 2012 – had just one shot on target for the duration. That came on 66 minutes when 18-years-old substitute Dylan O’Malley curled a sublime left-footed effort beyond David McDonagh, and such was the quality of the finish that he got a round of applause around the ground.

This Mayo side are not a patch on the great Westport sides who have challenged for provincial and local honours down through the years, but nothing lasts forever and a spell in the wilderness could be on the cards for Micky Feeney’s charges.

In contrast, Renmore are enjoying a good campaign in Division One where the title already looks to be a shootout between themselves and Colga. They certainly carried this form into this cup game, and on a dreadful pitch they outplayed the visitors for the duration.

However, the opening half saw little productivity in the last third of the park, as Cunningham got to a Connolly through ball before Paul Sinnott in the only half-chance in the opening 45 minutes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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