Celtic do enough to reclaim Westaro Cup
Castlebar Celtic, 2024 Westaro Cup champions. Pictures: Michael Donnelly
It was a poor showing by their current lofty standards but Castlebar Celtic will ultimately have no complaints as they captured their first Westaro Cup since 2017 with a 2-1 victory against Ballina Town.
Castlebar Celtic trailed in this game for a total of two minutes and fifty seconds having offered a rapid response to going behind. They added a second before half-time and that was all she wrote in terms of goalscoring, although Ballina were the better of the two teams in the second half and will feel they left the game behind them.
Celtic relied upon the likes of Stefan Hester in goal and the reassuring presence of Oran Groarke in the middle of the park to see them over the line in this game. Ballina’s lack of an equaliser also extends Celtic’s incredible record of having not conceded twice in a game yet this season.
Both teams had chances in the opening 15 minutes. Chris Maughan very nearly put Ballina in front with only a minute played as his header was cleared off the line and Dan Gorman’s follow-up was well blocked by Stefan Hester.
With 12 minutes played, Dylan Edwards dropped back to help his defence and sent a pass from just outside the Celtic box to Jason Hunt on the wing. Hunt played a lovely ball over the top to Luke Kelly and the in-form winger sent his shot just wide of the post.
With 26 minutes on the clock, Jamie Cawley went on a brilliant run and bypassed the Celtic defence. He had just gone around Hester and was poised to hit the empty net when he hit the deck and Damien McGrath pointed to the penalty spot. Dylan McKee dispatched it to put Ballina in front.
The lead did not last and the rare concession of a goal this season pushed Celtic on. On the next attack, Dylan Edwards was brought down by Conor Quinn and McGrath once again pointed to the spot.
Jordan Loftus put it away to level matters. Six minutes later, Celtic got what proved to be the winning goal. Luke Kelly slid in with Chris Maughan to get a touch on Dylan Edwards cross and the Castlebar marksman got the better of the Ballina defender to make it 2-1.
Castlebar lacked a real edge to their attack for the remainder of the game, owing in large part to the injury to Jason Hunt, who went off after 42 minutes.
Ballina meanwhile looked for an equalizer that did not manifest itself. Conor Gorman came close with 50 minutes played. He left Ioseph O’Reilly on the deck in his wake and drove towards Stefan Hester. Hester was rooted to the spot, expecting a cross and Gorman instead opted to shoot. His shot his the side netting, just a bit more to the left and it would have been level.
Oisin Tighe had a great opportunity with 70 minutes played. He went on a brilliant, solo run and fired a shot at goal that Hester saved well. Tiernan Tighe was lurking but could not get enough on his shot to bury it and Celtic cleared their lines once more.
Celtic’s main chance of the second half came in the 81st minute. Jordan Loftus tried with an audacious effort from the halfway line as he spotted Emmet Peyton a bit out from goal but Peyton recovered to gather it and save.
With almost the last kick, Ballina had one more chance. Almost everyone was up for their last corner and Tiernan Tighe got a head to it but it flew over the bar.
Celtic held on for what is their second trophy in what is likely to be a treble in 2024; they have already won the Connacht Cup and are cantering towards the Super League. They remain in the Super Cup as well and despite Saturday being far from their best performance, the sky remains the limit for Stevie Gavin’s team.
