Celtic inflict more FAI Junior Cup misery on great rivals
A first half goal from Eoghan Hughes proved to be the difference as Castlebar Celtic defeated rivals Westport United to advance to the third round of the FAI Junior Cup. Picture: Castlebar Celtic FC
Eoghan Hughes came back to haunt Westport United yet again last Saturday night as his first half goal was enough to send Castlebar Celtic through to the third round of the FAI Junior Cup.
His brace in last year’s tie in what Mayo’s ‘El Clasico’ first time in the national stage of the competition in January 2025 broke United hearts on that occasion, and yet again he was the difference maker on this occasion.
United, who were marginally the better side before the goal, will rue not taking crucial chances either side of the Hughes winner, as well as another pair of chances that came their way in the second half as a wait for a win over their biggest rivals in Celtic Park for the first time since June 2022 goes on, although another chance will present itself next weekend when they meet in the Mayo Super League.
Under the bright lights and in front of a red-hot crowd, tackles were flying in from both teams and the referee was busy with his notebook, booking two Celtic and United players in the first half, with six yellow cards overall brandished on the night.
Clear-cut chances were at a premium in the opening half hour but United fashioned the first real opportunity on 32 minutes. A ball over the top for Dylan O’Malley to run onto saw him beat Celtic goalkeeper Peter Basquille to it, but his dink over Basquille was well off target.
Four minutes later and Celtic punished the miss. Mark Cunningham won possession in the United half and floated a ball into the box. Hughes, who was quiet up until this point, leapt into the air and looped header over Gary Cunningham and into the net.
United should have levelled it on the stroke of half-time. Jack Dawson saw his initial shot saved by Basquille but kept the alive. All his cross back into the six-yard box needed the faintest of touches from the oncoming Sean Casey but he failed to get any contact on the ball and Celtic took a slender lead into the break.
The Hoops were quicker out of the traps in the second half. A quick one-two between Mark Cunningham and Jason Hunt saw the former whip a low cross in for Luke Kelly, and Gary Cunningham had to be quick to intercept what would have been a tap-in for Kelly on 54 minutes.
Ten minutes later, Basquille was called into action again to deny United. First, he saved Kevin Kitterick’s free-kick and then quickly saved the follow-up shot from a United attacker.
The introduction of Oran Murphy. who started for the Celtic in the Connacht U18 Cup the following afternoon, and Davitt Neary have the home side added steel in the middle and fresh legs on the counter. Murphy brilliantly danced past two United defenders before laying off the ball to Hughes on the left. The goalscorer looked to turn provider for Murphy, but Caoimhín O’Toole got a vital clearance away.
United almost caught Celtic on 84 minutes with a free kick over the top to substitute Serhii Morarenko but the Ukrainian could not get the ball under control to strike it.
United continued to reign balls in but Celtic centre-back duo Ioseph O’Reilly and Brian Walsh easily dealt with any missiles that came way.
Celtic almost signed off the night in style when another two substitutes Daniel Ajenipa and Dylan Felle combined deep in added time. Felle’s effort went just wide to put the celebrations on hold, but only momentarily as the final whistle went to secure Celtic’s safe passage in the next round. United, again, will wonder what might have been.
Castlebar Celtic: Peter Basquille, Mark Cunningham, Ben McHale, Ioseph O’Reilly, Brian Walsh, Ben Murphy, Fionn Mahon, Johnnie Cocozza, Eoghan Hughes, Jason Hunt, Luke Kelly. Subs: Oran Murphy and Davitt Neary (for B Murphy and Kelly 66), Daniel Ajenipa (for Hunt 82), Dylan Felle (for Hughes 90+2).
Westport United: Gary Cunnigham, Mikey O’Brien, Sean Casey, Noah Massey, Cillian White, Caoimhín O’Toole, Kevin Kitterick, Jack Dawson, Darren Browne, Dylan O’Malley, Cian Halpin. Subs: Alex Halin (for Casey 57), Serhii Morarenko and Cillian McGlade (for C Halpin and Dylan O’Malley 73), Dan O’Malley (for O’Toole 82).
REF: David Jameson (Roscommon).
