Sheriff put a halt to westport gallop

It's difficult to start looking for positives in the aftermath of a defeat, especially in the FAI Junior Cup, but when everyone associated with Westport United returns to what constitutes normality this week, they should reflect on a game of football that they did an awful lot right in, writes Padraig Burns.

Yes, a three-nil defeat looks quite comprehensive but it was like one of those ‘you had to there’ moments to really understand what went on against Sheriff YC on Sunday.

We said it last week that Westport needed to stay tight and disciplined and not concede. Well, they did the first two but falling a goal behind after five minutes was not part of the plan. It was a soft auld goal to give away too, a player coming in with a free run at the back post to plant a header into the net from a well taken corner kick.

United didn’t do then what they did do last year after conceding. They didn’t panic. Eighty-five minutes remained to be played. Sensibly, they had set out to frustrate and hopefully hit the home team on the break or from a set piece.

Darren Browne was deployed to sit on John Lester, the Sheriff playmaker, and he did it to perfection. Denied Lester’s ability to dictate play, Sheriff were made look ordinary enough. Yes, they had the majority of possession but Gary Cunningham did not have an inordinate amount of work to do in that first half. Joe Lawless was immaculate at centre-half alongside Martin Geraghty, rolling back the years with his quality.

David Hoban was desperately unfortunate not to score but his half volley hit the post and Phillip Keegan’s follow-up effort was well saved. United did have a few scares and Sheriff were unfortunate to be denied when John Rock hit the crossbar and a lovely drive from distance by John O’Neill had Cunningham scampering along his line.

Yet, United would have been happy to have been just the one behind at the interval. It wasn’t ideal, obviously, but there was enough about them in the first half to suggest that they were there for the long haul.

The second half started well for the visitors and both Darren Browne and David Hoban had efforts saved by Lee Murphy. Then Sheriff were awarded a penalty after Pat Fitzgerald was adjudged to have fouled Sean Murphy but the normally lethal John Rock hit it high and wide.

That was a huge reprieve for Westport but they still had to endure a difficult time in the game. Cunningham made a couple of fine saves as they fought to stay alive. It all became too much for them though when Colin Cameron was sent off after picking up a second yellow card after an hour. Sheriff added a second goal three minutes later and the third came five minutes from time. It was harsh on United but, as suggested at the outset, it was not a typical three-nil defeat.

Reflecting afterwards, Kieran Mulchone, Westport United joint manager, said the players did all that was asked of them. “We couldn’t ask for any more from them,” he stated. “We set out to play a particular way and by and large it worked. The early goal was cruel but we did respond well and I felt had we been able to keep it at one-nil we could have opened it up later on. But then the sending off changed everything and it gave them the initiative.

“We’re really disappointed to have lost up here again and it’s very difficult to play properly on this surface. But we’ll regroup and in a week or two we’ll be ready to give the Connaught Cup a right go.”