West Mayo derby goes way of Westport
Westport United goalkeeper Gary Cunningham rises highest to clear the ball away. Picture: John Corless
A dogged West Mayo derby went the way of Westport United as the Coveys picked up their first league win this season.
With crucial games against Ballina Town and Castlebar Celtic this week, United could ill afford more dropped points after they were held to a goalless draw in their league opener against Manulla.
It was not an overly convincing performance by any means and their winner came from a mistake by Glenhest goalkeeper Eoghan McManamon before the break. While the means of getting the three points won't matter, they will need an improvement in front of goal if they are to pick up results in their next two games.
Glenhest opted to sit deep and break on the counter, a tactic that has given them some big results in the past in the Super League, and they almost capitalised early on. Pat Mulchrone chased down to stop a clearance from goalkeeper Gary Cunningham and it deflected into the path of Cillian Murphy with Cunningham over 40 yards from his own goal but Murphy got his strike all wrong.
At the other end, Cian Halpin's cross found Dylan O'Malley but his glancing header was well wide.
Glenhest almost took advantage of another element of fortune on 22 minutes when a ball played through from deep saw Cillian White slip when trying to intercept and Mulchrone ran through. He cut inside to shoot only to slip on the ball when about to strike.
Westport dominated possession throughout the half but Glenhest stood firm and threw themselves in front of everything. The visitors best chances came from a direct ball from deep. Dylan O'Malley had the best chance but McManamon closed the space down and O’Malley’s effort was over.
McManamon, however, would be at fault for United's opener on the stroke of half-time. He spilled Mikey O'Brien's cross and Kevin Kitterick was quickest to react to fire into the empty net.
The Glenhest shotstopper kept out Cian Halpin's curling effort early in the second half, but his first half error clearly played on the young man, looking uneasy with any crosses that came his way. Jack Dawson was unlucky not to score a second for United, his header from Kitterick's corner coming back off the post.
McManamon's day to forget was compounded when he was sent off on 85 minutes after handling the ball outside the penalty area as United saw the remainder of the game out comfortably.
The visitors big week ahead begins with a home game against Ballina Town tomorrow (Thursday) evening while Glenhest face the Town next Sunday.
