Five-star United into last 32 of FAI Junior Cup
Westport United are the only Mayo club left standing in the FAI Junior Cup after a comfortable in over Galty Celtic.
Westport United signed off 2023 in style as they cruised into the last 32 of the FAI Junior Cup with a straightforward win over Galty Celtic on Sunday afternoon.
If further proof were needed of United’s special relationship with the competition – they remain the only club from mayo to have won the cup – they ruthlessly dispatched of the AUL Senior League side, with their only complaint being that the win should have been by a greater margin.
Adam Nugent, who came on as an early substitute following the withdrawal of Aaron Cannon due to injury, bagged a second half hat trick while Kevin Kitterick and Dylan O’Malley got United’s first and final goals respectively.
That first came on 11 minutes as United’s early pressure on the Galty backline paid dividends. A ball over the top by Cannon was latched onto by Kitterick, who beat Galty captain Stephen Mills for pace and slotted it under goalkeeper Edward Curley. The assist from Cannon would be his final contribution as he injured himself as he struck the ball and was taken off.
Kitterick almost had a second after Cian Halpin’s cutback to the striker on the edge of the area and he was unfortunate to see his first-time shot cannon off the crossbar. He tried to turn provider a minute late for Dyaln O’Malley but the winger’s shot was sliced wide.
Chances for Galty were at a premium, their best falling to Mills when Jordan Dunphy’s corner found the Galty skipper unmarked at the backpost only to send his header well wide. At the other end, Nugent’s low free-kick just outside the penalty area was tipped behind the post by Curley. Galty enjoyed plenty of possession for the remainder of the half but never troubled United captain Gary Cunningham in goal as the hosts remained ahead by the bare minimum at half-time.
Four minutes into the second half, they doubled their advantage as Fionn O’Hora’s clever ball over the Galty defence found Nugent. His first effort was not dealt with by Curley and he coolly placed home the rebound.
Before the hour mark, it was all but over as Dylan O’Malley pounced on a loose pass out the Galty defence and broke down the right of the penalty area before squaring to Nugent to cheekily backheel into the net for his second.
It was all United at this stage and Nugent and Cian Halpin both missed chances to extend their lead further. In a rare opportunity at the other end, Mills saw another chance go over after Gary Cunningham failed to punch clear a Dunphy free-kick while substitute John O’Connor hit the bar from close range.
There was still time in the last ten minutes for United to do more damage and Nugent completed his hat trick on 82 minutes when Nugent bundled home from two yards for his hat trick and three minutes later, Cian Halpin launched a counter attack down the left as he evaded the challenge of Curley and squared it for Dylan O’Malley to fire it into an empty net.
