Five-star United crowned provincial champions
Westport United, 2026 Connacht U18 Girls Cup champions.
Westport United were crowned Connacht U18 Girls Cup champions last Sunday after they blew away Arrow Harps in what was a one-sided affair.
This United side have fired in the goals throughout their run to the final, putting seven past Moyne Villa, five past Athenry and eight past Dunmore Town in the semi-final. Effectively picking up where they left off, United justified their tag as heavy favourites and had this final all sown up by the start of the second half.
Arrow Harps battled gamely but could not deal with the class of this ultra-talented United outfit. Encapsulating their quality was the twin threats of Katie Hughes and Aoibhinn McNamara, who tormented the Harps backline all afternoon. Hughes, who finished as top scorer of the competition with 12 goals, opened the scoring on two minutes as she got on the end of a kick down the field by goalkeeper Lauren Cusack before firing across the Arrow Harps keeper Abbie McTiernan and into the net.
The goalscorer almost added another moments later but McTiernan was equal to her effort on this occasion, while Hughes missed a glorious chance to double their lead on eight minutes, firing wide with the goal at her mercy.
United, who played with a strong wind in the first half, would make it two-nil on 15 minutes thanks to the impressive Aoibhinn McNamara, who thundered in on the half-volley at the edge of the penalty area.
Arrow Harps forays into the United got little joy, with Rheanna Hoban, Lauren Maloney and Saoirse McGing defending superbly. At the other end, McNamara and Hughes continued to press the Harps backline into mistakes, and Hughes made it 3-0 before half-time with a well-struck free kick into the roof of the net.
Despite playing against the elements in the second half, United continued to come forward and Hughes was denied twice by McTiernan early on. But on 56 minutes, Hughes effectively ended this final as a contest as she got on the end of another Cusack long ball and her strike from outside the area gave McTiernan no chance.
To their credit, the Sligo side kept battling and pulled a goal back three minutes later through Aoibhinn Conlon. Aileen Dwyer’s corner was flicked on and Conlon tapped it home.
But it was United’s day, and they netted a fifth goal on 82 minutes. Again, Cusack’s kickout was a big weapon, with Ruby Brennan knocking it onto Hughes. The hat-trick hero turned provider on this occasion for McNamara, who ran on and finished from a tight angle.
Westport United: Lauren Cusack, Rheanna Hoban, Anna Meaney, Saoirse McGing, Maria McDonnell, Lauren Maloney, Aoibhinn McNamara, Emma Conway, Katie Hughes, Maud O’Reilly, Kate Maloney. Subs: Kate McGing (for Maloney 63), Ruby Brennan (for O’Reilly 80), Katie Moran (for McNamara 85), Emily Grady (for Conway 86).
Arrow Harps: Abbie McTiernan, Allesha Sweeney, Aobihin Conlon, Sophie Edwards, Aine Mostyn, Sophia Rose Henry, Katie Gilligan, Ava Duggan, Leah Harte, Shauna Madden. Subs: Aileen Dwyer (for Edwards 56), Rebecca Garry (for Harte 75).
REF: Gerard Carmody (Roscommon).
