Mayo Soccer 19 June 1996
WELCOME INN HOTEL PREMIERSHIP
TWO-GOAL GALLAGHER INSPIRES ROVERS
Achill back in the hunt big time
Westport United .................. 1
Achill Rovers ....................... 4
By JONATHAN MULLIN. . .AT THE SPORTS PARK
An open game of football played in the Sports Park, Westport
, on Sunday was
eventually decided by the "total football' policy of Achill Rovers, the
total permeation of the Westport United defence and a total of four goals
for the Islanders.
Young Kieran Gallagher had a hand in three of the four, scoring two and assisting one. A 4-1 victory certainly did not flatter the winners who now soar to a lofty perch on the League table, lying in second place just a single point off the leaders, Ballyglass.
Goal chances were few and far between in the opening exchanges. The first twenty minutes witnessed a Fergal Kilbane header being cleared off the line and a speculative long range effort from Noel Cooney.
Not much action you'll agree but what it prophesied was the Achill domination which established a two goal lead at the break.
The breakthrough came on 22 minutes. Achill's youth policy was justified instantly. Under-17 team mates John P. Keane and Kieran Gallagher combining to put Rovers in front. Keane's long ball and Gallagher's neat finish leaving Westport United goalkeeper Martin McGreal with no chance.
Gallagher was in the thick of it again on 39 minutes. Averting the attention of Westport substitute John Heraty, he found Alan English, who after peeling away from his marker Alan McLoughlin, finished with aplomb.
Vincent O'Malley was introduced for Westport in the second half. Indeed after 63 minutes O'Malley had the best chance of the match. Heraty's stunning right footed shot from all of thirty yards rattled Cormac Holland's crossbar and O'Malley saw his return saved expertly by the aforementioned custodian.
EYE OF NEEDLE STYLE
The spell of play that could have brought Westport right back into the fray ended in disaster, for right down the field came Achill to score their third goal. And once again it was Gallagher combining with an Under-17 colleague.Rovers were undoubtedly winning midfield, Mark Corrigan and Noel Cooney, in particular, dominant, Cooney the ball winner and Corrigan the play maker.
Corrigan gave substitute Niall O'Donnell a run down the right and O'Donnell's cross found Kieran Gallagher, whose header, in true eye of a needle style, nicked in between McGreal and his left hand post.
With the game over as a contest and with nothing to lose, Westport threw caution to the wind - and were punished.
The Westport United off-side trap is in need of some emergency plumbing - nine goals leaked in the last two games - and Fergal Kilbane wasn't unduly troubled in assisting Alan English to completing his brace on 85 minutes.
Westport United, to their credit, never gave in and Vincent O'Malley was rewarded for his endeavour three minutes later when he scored from Don Loughnane's corner.
Westport United: M. McGreal, J. Fahy, N. Moran, I. McLoughlin, S. Jordan, J. Kelly , D. Loughnane, B. Kennedy, G. McGreevy, C. Crowe, A. McLoughlin. Res: J. Heraty (for Fahy); V. O'Malley (for Kelly).
Achill Rovers: C. Holland, J. P. Keane, D. Fadian, B. McNulty, P. McGinty, N. Cooney, D. O'Malley, A. English, F. Kilbane, M. Corrigan, K. Gallagher. Res: M.J. Fadian (for P. McGinty); N. O'Malley (for D. O'Malley).
Ref: J. Blake (Castlebar).
* Star Rating: Kieran Gallagher. . .killed off Westport.
WELCOME INN HOTEL PREMIERSHIP
Erris up their title challenge
Erris United ........................ 3
Conn Rangers ........................ 1
Erris United are firmly back in the Mayo League Premiership.
They moved to within one point of leaders Ballyglass with a fine win over
Conn Rangers at Carne, Bemullet on Sunday.
United got off to a superb start with an early goals by John Mangan following good work by Harry Reilly.
Steve Carolan, P.J. Nallen and Harry Reilly missed a number of chances to increase the Erris lead before half-time.
Rangers introduced Joe Davis and Fergal Sweeney at the beginning of the second half, and they transformed the Knockmore side.
Dermot Holmes equalised in the 53rd minute when he caught Erris goalkeeper Michael Healy off his line with a long range effort.
Erris made their own substitutions after that which helped turn the game in their favour.
Eric Reilly, returning after suspension, scored his fifth goal of the campaign minutes after coming into the action.
Kevin Barrett, the side's second substitute, wrapped up the issue for Erris with their third goal.
Rangers are now in real trouble at the bottom of the table.
Erris United: M. Healy, M. Boylan, D. Donoghue, P. Munnelly, N. McNulty, P.J. Nallen, S. Carolan, M. G. Reilly, J. Mangan, H. Reilly, P. Reilly. Res: E. Reilly, K. Barrett, M. McIntyre (all used).
Conn Rangers: M. Roach, D. Herbert, R. Kelly, H. Maloney, P. Neary, J.P. Nelson, M. McHale, M. Armstrong, K. Loftus, D. Holmes, N. Hopkins. Res: F. Sweeney and J. Davis (for McHale and Nelson).
Ref: J. Cawley (Ballina).
* Star Rating: P.J. Nallen . . . United's unsung hero.
Connaught Telegraph - News - June 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - June 1996
