Conn complete Super comeback on penalties
Duane McDonnell converted the winning penalty kick for Conn Rangers. Picture: SJ Photography
Conn Rangers ended the trophy hopes of Westport United’s Super League for 2024 after coming from behind in normal time to eventually seal a semi-final spot on penalties.
United’s defending at set pieces – an Achilles heel for them this season – came back to haunt them again as poor defending cost them dearly a quarter-final that they looked to have all in control of.
The visitors were not done any favours after losing their two starting centre-halves, Noah Massey and Joe Lawless, to injury in the first half and they showed great character to go ahead but Rangers drew level with two goals in three second half minutes and with United tiring quickly in extra-time, only one winner seemed likely.
The game started in strange fashion when one of the Westport United substitutes was shown a straight red card three minutes into the game for unsporting behaviour (see page 16). Things got worse a minute later when a breakdown in communication between Lawless and goalkeeper Gary Cunningham saw Lawless chest a Sean Holmes cross into his own net.
United were all over the place in the opening 20 minutes but Conn could not extend their advantage, before a stunning long-distance strike by Kevin Kitterick drew them level.
On the half-hour mark, United were level. Cillian White’s shot from 25 yards was palmed away by Rangers goalkeeper Brian McMahon but Dylan O’Malley was quickest to react and he tapped in from close range.
Both sides had chances before the end of half. Sean Holmes should have hit the target when he got on the end of Cian McHale’s free kick for Conn while Kitterick shot straight at McMahon after beating Owen McNamara for pace shortly before the break.
Kevin McNamara’s side upped the ante in the second half and came were unfortunate not to extend their lead from a flurry of set pieces at the hour mark, coming closest with Aaron Cannon after he hit the bar from a header.
They finally made it 3-1 on 68 minutes when substitute Jack Dawson’s cut back was tapped in by Fionn O’Hora but seven minutes later, the sides were level. Eoin Prendergast’s header pulled a goal back before another McHale free-kick was not cleared away and Peter Naughton, in his first game of the season for Conn, made it three-apiece.
Conn almost won it in added time following a quick counterattack launched by McHale set up Prendergast, but his shot was cleared off the line by Cian Halpin.
Extra-time followed and neither side could make the breakthrough, with United coming closest through substitute Adam Nugent but he was denied by top-class goalkeeping by McMahon.
Penalties were required to settle the tie and both goalkeepers could do nothing about the excellent spot-kicks taken. United were first to blink, however, when Jack Dawson saw his penalty go inches wide of the post and Conn substitute Duane McDonnell, with incredibly his first touch after coming on in second half injury-time, booked his sides spot in the last four.
