Bulls lead from start to book top flight return
Westport players in jubilant mood following their team's league title triumph at Dexcom Stadium which will see them playing in Connacht Junior League Division 1A next season.
Westport secured promotion to the J1A after defeating Corinthians seconds in the Bank of Ireland J1B League final at a windy and rain-soaked Dexcom Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
It was a fiercely contested encounter, with Corinthians dominating possession for much of the second-half. However, the resilient defence of the Bulls held firm throughout, preventing the Galway side from finding a breakthrough as the Mayo men ultimately emerged victorious.
Westport could not have asked for a better start. Straight from the kick-off they worked the ball through the Corinthians defence, allowing Chris Ryan to cross the line for the opening try of the match. Alan Masterson then produced an excellent conversion into a strong and swirling wind, giving Westport a 7–0 lead after just three minutes.
With 13 minutes on the clock Corinthians had their first real attack inside the Westport 22 when they won a penalty and kicked down the line just eight metres shy of the Westport try line. Corinthians won another penalty from the ensuing maul and when advantage didn’t accrue they came back from the penalty. Just metres out, they tapped the ball with Dillon McAuliffe crashing over to score his side’s first try. Eoghan Flannery missed the conversion into the wind and there was two between the sides, 7-5.
Westport responded quickly. Conor Calvey found space along the new Clan Stand sideline and made a break and was stopped just shy of the Corinthians try line, they recycled the ball with a few phases before captain Brendan McLoughlin dotted down. Masterson added the extras to give the Mayo side a 14-5 lead after 19 minutes.
Corinthians thought they had crossed for their second when Liam Carpenter dived over but the referee Michael Honan said no try as he was held up. From the ensuing goal line dropout, Corinthains won the ball back with Emmanuel Oifoh making a break through the Westport defence and scoring with Flannery added the conversion and there was just two between the sides, 14-12 after 30 minutes.
Westport thought they got their third of the afternoon five minutes later but Corinthians defended well and held up Thomas Prendergast. They won a penalty in front of the posts about 18 metres out but Masterson was unable to covert this time with the wind against him and they went in two ahead at the break, 14-12.
It was a quick start to the second-half for Westport again as they scored their third try when Cormac Lyons crossed the line. Masterson mishit the ball for the conversion and Westport lead by five, 19-12.
Minutes later Corinthians won a penalty just outside the Westport 22 but was brought forward by the referee for dissent to make the kick much easier for Flannery right in front of the posts which he slotted to reduce the gap to four, 19-15.
Westport worked their way into the Corinthians half and won a penalty for a high tackle. Masterson struck the kick but it drifted and hit the goalpost coming back at the Corinthians players who were unable to control and knocked the ball on. Westport won the scrum from which they worked the ball to Brendan McLoughlin who scored a try with Masterson converting, to give them a 26-15 lead with 55 minutes gone.
Carpenter was not to be stopped when he received the ball after some good phase from Corinthians and he finally got his try in the 58th minute. Although Flannery missed the conversion, there was just six between the sides.
There would be no further scores however, as although Corinthians enjoyed the majority of the possession, they were unable to break down the Westport defence with Ryan, after returning to the pitch following his substitution, winning a massive turnover to stem the Corinthians attack.
Westport won a penalty just inside the Corinthians half with 80 minutes gone on the clock and they chose to go for the shot. Stephen Loftus stepped up but did not get a good catch on the kick. Westport won the ball back before Corinthians stopped their maul and won their own penalty. They then won a second penalty in their own half as Westport were offside but were unable to make any headway as Westport defended well with Corinthians knocking the ball on and the referee blowing the whistle after 84 minutes of play.
Westport: Alan Masterson, Conor Calvey, Adam Sheridan, Harry Sheridan, Ruaidhri Spellman, Stephen Loftus, Sam Walsh; Thomas Horscraft, Ross Bourke, Brendan McLoughlin, Tomas Prendergast, Chris Ryan, Kevin Corcoran, Aaron McGoldrick, Cormac Lyons. Replacements: Liam Scahill (for McLoughlin 64), Caolan O’Brien (for Prendergast 64).
Corinthians 2nd: Eoghan Flannery, Pablo Castellano, Diarmuid Kilcommins, Liam Carpenter, Oisin Berthoz, Tadhg Johnston, Colin Madden; James Dean Duffy, Adam Nash, Alex Burke, Ryan Gaughan, Manuel Garcia Peret, Emmanuel Oifoh, Patrick Flannery, Dillon McAuliffe. Replacements: Ferghal Mac Cearra (for Madden 50), Jack Boyan (for Duffy 71), Sean Comer O’Brien (for Flannery 71).
REF: Michael Honan
