Tuesday, 21 May 2013 14:17

Castlebar Celtic 3 Peamount Unite 6 .. THE way she started the game, it wasn’t hard to see why Peamount striker Sara Lawlor had been named the Bus Éireann Women’s National League player of the year in a poll of the league’s players.

Lawlor set up the opening goal, scored by Julie Anne Russell, in the third minute before adding two of her own in the sixth and 14th minutes to give her side a commanding three goal lead with less than a quarter of an hour played.

It was tough to take for Celtic and their band of supporters on what was an emotional day in Milebush Park, where a cherry blossom tree was planted in the memory of former manager Jeremy Dee, who died tragically on November 18 last year, in a ceremony before the game.

Jeremy had been the driving force behind women’s soccer at Celtic Park and how proud he would have been to see his team respond so positively to such an early onslaught and make a game of it over the remaining 75 minutes.

After the third goal, Celtic – with jerseys displaying ‘Jeremy’ across the shoulders at the back – reshuffled and got a handle on the Peamount attack, in which Solene Barbance and Stephanie Roche aided Lawlor in mounting lightening-quick surges.

Tuesday, 14 May 2013 15:04

Joe Lawless ..... thrilled to finally get his day in the provincial sun after missing out on last year's COnnaught Cup final success due to injuryTHERE is a growing debate within Mayo football in regard to whether or not Westport United play better away from home than at the Sports Park.
Given the fact that joint managers James Fahy and Kieran Mulchrone have a strong preference for selecting a 4- 5-1 formation, it’s not exactly ideal on a pitch where space is particularly tight.
It’s hardly a surprise, consequently, that United’s best performances in the Connaught Cup over the past two years have taken place at Milebush Park, the Castlebar facility they use when the Sports Park is closed, and Terryland Park, the venue where they won the crown last season at the expense of Athenry.
It will come as welcome news to Westport United supporters to learn that the venue for the 2013 Connaught Cup final against Ballinasloe Town on Sunday (k.o. 3 p.m.) is also a pretty big pitch.
Lecarrow is the headquarters of the Roscommon & District League and is located just off the N61 route between Knockcroghery and Athlone.
It was the brainchild of Roscommon officials in the calibre of the late John Sherlock, who lost his life in a car accident on August 22, 2010, Martin Conboy, Brendan Fahy and others.
While the stadium may not yet have spectator facilities to cater for the large contingent of United followers who will descend on the grounds on Sunday, the pitch should be to the liking of the Westport players in the same way as Milebush Park and Terryland Park are.
It’s the first time the Connaught Junior Cup final is being staged at the venue and United will be proud to be part of such an occasion.
It is fitting, too, that Ballinasloe Town complete the pairing as the late John Sherlock had a particularly close affection for the club.

Tuesday, 14 May 2013 14:48

FOR a team that has become accustomed to winning match after match and, consequently, trophy after trophy, Westport United were faced with the unusual scenario of having to dig deep to ensure they didn’t lose just their second 2013 league game at home to Ballyheane last Saturday week.
As preparations go for another big final – the Connaught Cup decider against Ballinalsoe Town of the Roscommon & District League is coming up on Sunday – it would hardly seem ideal. But that wasn’t how Westport joint manager Kieran Mulchrone saw it.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better game – it was a serious wake-up call,” he said. “They (Ballyheane) were really good. They wanted it more than we wanted it. One or two of our fellas were relaxed and thought it was going to be an easy game, but they weren’t long finding out that it wasn’t going to be. All credit to Ballyheane – they played very well.”
And even though that game – their last before the provincial decider – didn’t quite go according to plan, it hasn’t dampened down hopes of claiming back to back Connaught titles for the first time in the club’s history, according to Mulchrone.
“We’re confident enough going into the final. The lads are all up for it. It’s not often you get the opportunity to play in a Connaught Cup final after winning it, so we’re hoping we can go on and do it again.
“We know Ballinasloe are going to be awful hard. They’ll be well up for it. We played them last year and we know the type of team they are, and they’ll be looking for revenge for last season.