Westport stay top with tight win over Ballina
From left, Ballina Town's Jason Cawley, Westport United duo Dylan O’Malley and Jack Dawson and Ballina pair Miqueias Dos Santos Souza Meireles and Tommy Forde. Picture: John Corless
A Jack Dawson goal an hour in nicked the points for Westport United, in a tight game at Belleek Park on Saturday evening.
The goal came from a free kick by Dylan O’Malley, and the Town defence should have done better than leave Jack Dawson unmarked at the near post. The Westport captain heeded home and sealed the win to keep them four clear at the top of the Super League table from Glenhest Rovers.
“It’s a significant three points for us,” Westport manager Anthony O’Neill told the . “Ballina are a really good side, and they have been on a good run recently, we knew it was going to be a tough game here today.” He was telling the truth. This was a heavyweight contest between two sides that play passing football, and the game was a cracker. It was very competitive too, but there were no cynical fouls, and referee Eric Eaton had an easy job despite the speed and intensity of the game. it was end-to-end, like a cup tie, for most of it.
It was appropriate that a single goal decided this match. Westport were the better side over the ninety and deserved the win – but only just. Town gave them a right battle but didn’t create a clear scoring opportunity. Mick Duffy’s side has made good progress this season and while not title challengers, they’re not that far off.
On Saturday Ballina lined out again without Jamie Cawley, his long-term injury showing no signs of clearing. PJ Gilmartin and Oisin Tighe were absent too, though all three were at the game, cheering on their team mates. Conor Quinn was missing too, from the match-day squad.
Westport were without Darren Browne and Cillian McGlade. The United boss deployed Dylan O’Malley as a centre-forward in the absence of Browne, but O’Malley drops deep at times, like Celtic’s Jordan Loftus, and on Saturday an out-and-out striker might have produced more return.
Ryan Moran had a go early on, from a Benny Lavelle free kick, but his shot was tame and went wide. At the other end, Kevin Kitterick couldn’t connect with Harrison Quinn’s diagonal pass. Minutes later, Lavelle looked offside when put through by Moran, but it didn’t matter; Quinn closed him down.
Emmet Peyton did well in the Ballina goal, with the strong evening sun in his eyes, to deny first Kitterick and then O’Malley. There were calls for a penalty when Quinn challenged the lively, Miqueias Dos Santos Souza Meireles, but referee Eric Eaton, (who had another excellent game) was having none of it. Dylan McKee fired over from a Goodhope Mutendebvure pass and the Zimbabwean couldn’t get power in his shot a few minutes later. Kitterick had a shot parried by Peyton for a corner, and Quinn sent a diagonal ball in, but nothing came of it.
Westport had more possession in the second half. Mikey O’Brien for the visitors and Jason Cawley for Ballina had shots over, before Dawson’s goal on 62 minutes.
Ballina kept at it, however. Daire O’Connor came close from a McKee free kick but couldn’t beat Cunningham. Mutendebvure had a go from Meireles’s pass but it wasn’t a clear chance.
Westport kept threatening to increase their lead. Player of the match Caoimhin O’Toole and substitute Seán Heaney gained more control in the middle and sent balls in all directions, but Kitterick, Cian Halpin and O’Malley couldn’t convert them to the scoreboard. Ballina brought in Oran Canavan, and he was unlucky near the end.
To have a chance of winning the Super League, Westport have to keep winning and hope that tiredness, injuries and a lot of games in a short space of time - as they play catch-up - might undo Castlebar Celtic’s grip on the league title.
O’Toole shaded the player of the match from substitute Seán Heaney. Both were excellent all evening. Kitterick too, was a constant threat coming in from the wing. Dos Santos Souza Meireles saw a lot of possession for Ballina. He has a great touch and is fast and fit. Benny Lavelle was always lurking too and Peyton was solid throughout, minding the sticks.
“Ballina started very well,” O’Neill said, “but we got into it and after going in scoreless we had to up it in the second half. We lifted the energy and took the game to them. The goal was not one we typically score. We’re delighted to keep a clean sheet.” Ballina manager Mick Duffy said it was a scrappy goal to concede. “It was a shame to have a great game decided like that. It’s disappointing to concede a cheap goal. But it was an honest battle by both sides.”
