Cup classic semi-finals in Westaro Masters League
The league and cup double is on for Ballyglass after they defeated Bangor Hibs in the Oliver Kelleher Masters Cup Semi-Final despite being a man down. Picture: Michael Donnelly
This season’s Oliver Kelleher Masters Cup is a bit like An Post – it continues to deliver. Two epic semi-finals took place on Wednesday evening, both finishing 5-4 and both packed with drama until the end.
Partry Athletic and Ballyglass will contest the final on April 17 but both were made to work extremely hard to come out on top against Westport United and Bangor Hibs respectively.
Division Three Partry’s unbelievable underdog run in the competition continued with victory in extra-time against the Coveys. John Russell have them the lead with eight minutes played, lashing in a shot from the right-hand side of the penalty area.
A whirlwind couple of minutes ensued as Mark Gibbons followed up Russell’s opener in the 12th minute, smashing in a low, driven screamer from distance to make it 2-0. Not to be outdone, Austin O’Malley scored an identical effort up the other end for Westport seconds later but then their keeper Kevin Joyce’s poorly hit pass went to the one man United would not have wanted. John Russell robbed possession and slammed the ball in the net to make it 3-1.
Austin O’Malley scored his second of the half to make it 3-2 at the break, rising highest to head in a corner. Two minutes into the second half, David Hoban turned his man and sent a powerful shot into the corner of the net – a vintage David Hoban finish to make it level once more.
Mark Gibbons put Partry back in front, flicking the ball past the keeper when John Byrne robbed a Westport man of possession. James Gill provided the equalizer and final goal of normal time to make it 4-4, finishing off a United counterattack.
Partry had been the better of the sides in normal time and could have easily had a winner long before Mark Gibbons completed his hat-trick in the fifth minute of the first half in extra time. It was a lovely move as John Byrne found Sean Bourke on the wing, who sent a cross towards Gibbons. He took it down and fired in the winner.
In the second semi-final, Ballyglass emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle with Bangor Hibs. It was level at the break but Jarlath Varley’s red card just before half-time left Ballyglass with an uphill battle with the game tied at 3-3. Jimmy Killeen opened the scoring after just two minutes for the Swans, finishing off a flowing move with a sweet strike. Mikie Sweeney responded for Bangor after navigating a sea of Ballyglass defenders to provide the finish.
Anthony Coyle then met Sweeney’s cross to put Bangor in front. Killeen restored parity when he found himself unmarked at point blank range when the ball came loose to him. Dermot Costello put Ballyglass in front when Hibs keeper Kyle Holmes failed to clear the ball. Mikie Sweeney scored his second to make it a tied game at half time, sliding in and connecting with Brian McHale’s cross to finish.
Before half time, Varley received his marching orders following an altercation with Michael Doocey and it left Ballyglass with a huge task in the second half. The danger signs were there immediately as Ballyglass would commit men forward but leave themselves open massively at the back. The numbers game came to Bangor’s favour as Mikie Sweeney tucked in his hat-trick goal.
But Ballyglass, as they have done time and time again, showed levels of courage reminiscent of Braveheart as they rallied the troops and found a way to victory. Jimmy Killeen equalized in the 39th minute as Colm Boyle leapt to head down Dermot Costello’s cross and Killeen squeezed his volley past the keeper. With seven minutes left on the clock, Killeen struck again, his fourth of the day and 17th of this Masters season. He connected with Boyle’s cross, sending a low volley into the net to make it 5-4.
This could have easily gone to extra time but for Ballyglass keeper John Walsh, who made a wonderful, fingertips save to deny Mikie Sweeney an equalizer. From the resulting corner, Walsh rose above every man on the pitch, all crowded in the Ballyglass box, to fist the ball clear and bring the game to a conclusion.
Before they face off against Ballyglass, Partry will contest the Division Three Playoff Final against Bangor Hibs tomorrow (Wednesday). With only one team going up this year, it is truly more like a cup final than a typical playoff that simply decides the destination of the league title.
