Westaro Cup Round One

By Patrick Hennelly

Castlebar Celtic 1

Ballinrobe Town 0

CASTLEBAR CELTIC booked their ticket into the next round of the Westaro Cup as an 87th minute winner from Simon Kelly was all that separated the hosts and their South Mayo opponents on Saturday evening at Celtic Park.

Ballinrobe could well have got off to the perfect start four minutes inside the opening half. a marauding run from J.P. O’Gorman, saw the striker being halted illegally inside the area by the retreating Robert Emerton and Referee Pat Foley had no option but to point to the spot, as well as brandishing the yellow card to Emerton. However, O’Gorman saw his spot-kick fizz wide, much to the relief of Mick Wallace and the Celtic bench.

On 25 minutes, Castlebar almost pinched the lead. A cross from James Minogue, found John Maughan but his effort was aptly dealt with by Damien Fitzpatrick.

Shortly after, Ballinrobe’s Enda Reilly teed-up O’Gorman, but the latter’s effort lacked that little bit of accuracy and the leather tailed harmlessly wide of the mark.

Celtic were left ruing their luck on 31 minutes, as they fluffed a gilt-edged opportunity of acquiring the opening goal. Joey Maloney was the architect of the move and his through ball released Gerry Burke who cut inside the Ballinrobe area and teed-up James Minogue but from close-range the latter scuffed his effort over the crossbar.

Castlebar played some purposeful football during the second period with Burke testing the reflexes of Damien Fitzpatrick, as a couple of free-kicks from the former were dealt with by the Ballinrobe custodian.

Indeed the Ballinrobe defence played admirably throughout and in particular John Fitzpatrick, who gave a very commanding display at centre-back.

During the final 20 minutes of the game, Ballinrobe upped the tempo and went in search of the winner. The best chance of that period that the red and white created fell to O’Gorman, however his strike hit the side-netting, much to the relief of the home defence.

On 87 minutes, the crucial goal arrived for Celtic. A dangerous free-kick was delivered into the Ballinrobe penalty box and Damien Fitzpatrick tried to punch the leather way to safety, but the poaching Simon Kelly headed the ball to the back of the red and white net, much to the dismay of the away faithful.

Ballinrobe did their level best during the closing stages to try and glean an equaliser but none was forthcoming, and it is Castlebar who can look forward to the next round of the Westaro Cup.

Castlebar Celtic: Mick Wallace, Sean McHale, James Minogue, Simon Kelly, Robert Emerton, Fintan McHale, Ioseph O’Reilly, Joey Maloney, Gerry Burke, Gary Price, John Maughan.

Sub used: Pat Fitzgerald

Ballinrobe Town: Damien Fitzpatrick, Bart Grimes, Shane Donnellan, Dave McDonnell, John Fitzpatrick, James McTigue, Enda Reilly, Shane O’Malley, J. P. O’Gorman, Shane Ryan, Kevin Keane.

Sub used: Maurice Walsh, Pierce Sweeney.

Referee: Pat Foley.