Connaught Cup 2011/12

[badker]

Quarter Final Results
Straide & Foxford 2 v 6 Westport Utd
Ballinasloe Town 4 v 0 Moyne Villa
NUIG 1 v 2 Mervue Utd.
Salthill Devon 3 v 4 Athenry



Connaught Cup Semi Final Draw
Ballinasloe Town v Westport United
Mervue v Athenry

[fatboyslim]

Any idea where final is to be played.

[Longshanks]

Mervue v Athenry is the home side according to the draw that was floating about on the early pgaes of this thread

[fatboyslim]

So what does that mean? Terryland finals??? if it is Bsloe does that mean lecarrow, or if Westport does that mean Milebush???

[badker]

I'd say final will be in Terryland

Semi Final Ballinasloe Town vs Westport United is fixed for Sunday 1st April @2pm

[Blue and Gold]

Best of luck Badker, should be a good game of Football, I will try and make it

[badker]

thanks horse, see you then. It should be a good game.

[Longshanks]

Shield semi:

Real Tubber v Ballygawley Sunday 25th 2pm Sligo Astro Pitch

[Longshanks]

Shield Semi:

Real Tubber 2 Ballygawley 1

a good game Tubber were the better side and had missed 2 penalties at 0-0. Tubber got a very late goal, screamer from 25 yrds to go 1-0 up, I asked the ref when we were tippin off how long was left, he said 2 and a bit mins. We managed to win a free and score from the cross to make it 1-1. And somehow we let Tubber score again before the end, we had at least three chances to put the ball dead which I'm sure would've seen the game finish 1-1. But we didnt and Tubbers striker got the ball in the box, our lads stood off him(understandable after conceding 2 pens) a bit too much and he worked the ball to his right foot and buried it into the top corner. It was a sickening way to lose. But I think Tubber would've probably won it in ET, they were the fitter side.

All the best to the Tubber lads in the final

[Round Tower]

Well done to Westport on wining 1-0 and reaching the final.

[swinfordfc]

Congrats to Westport Utd on reaching the final

[Thunderblaster]

Great win in an edgy game with few clear cut opportunities. Ballinasloe had penalty appeals turned down. Calm finish from Fitzy following Spiderman's assist from the right. Defence was disciplined, marshalled by the evergreen Lovejoy. The 2005 veterans carried the experience through with some of the younger guys enjoying their football, though some nerves came through. Looking forward to a tantalising final on May 13th as we look to bring home the Connacht Cup for the first time in 25 years, the one famine we want to end. Talking about omens, Westport United won the Connacht Cup in 1961 (50th Anniversary)and 1986-87 (75th Anniversary). Factor this in: 2011-12 (100th Anniversary), so if omens are anything to go by on milestone years, the name is on the cup.

[Sheep Farmer]

Congrats to Westport Utd on their win over Ballinasloe the weekend. I Think a lot of people had tipped the team with home advantage so well done again and best of luck in the final. No matter what you say it would be nice to see a Mayo team win it !.

[fatboyslim]

well done westport on getting to final. Ballinasloe played all the football but couldnt break down a solid back 4. town had 2 definite penos waved away. referee totally bottled the 1st penalty decision. even the westport players were giving out to their own player in question and were telling him to keep his hands down. the ball hit him full on the hand in the box with the ref and lino ten yards away and both ignored it. second penalty claim was not as clear cut but ref had again no balls. town missed a couple of key players through injury. Ballinasloe will be back.

Westport will need to lift their game big time if they are to win this competition. My money would be on an Athenry win in the final providing they get over Mervue. Athenry will feel at home in Terryland. They will be hard stopped

[Longshanks]

@fatboy

Unlucky to lose out, but I see ye had linesmen at the semi. The semi of the Shield had no linesmen and the ref actually reffed our GAA club the day before, first time I'd ever seen him ref a soccer game. Dont get me wrong, the best side won the game with absolutley no complaints but I thought it was slightly bizzare.

@thunder

congrats on reaching the final, I'd imagine ye will be flying fit once the Super League kicks off in Mayo and will get off to a good start, best of luck for the final

[fatboyslim]

longshanks you were better of with no linesmen as the ones that did the conn cup semi were terrible and the ref was no better.

[Thunderblaster]

Our supporters felt that The 'Sloe should have got a peno.

[Round Tower]

[QUOTE=Longshanks;1585613]@fatboy

Unlucky to lose out, but I see ye had linesmen at the semi. The semi of the Shield had no linesmen and the ref actually reffed our GAA club the day before, first time I'd ever seen him ref a soccer game. Dont get me wrong, the best side won the game with absolutley no complaints but I thought it was slightly bizzare.

For a important match like a shield semi-fina of Connaught too have no linesmen is suprising,olso that game was played on an astro turf pitch in Sligo was it not,its just it was played during a period o good weather suprissing it was not played on a natural pitch.

[Number_1]

Shield final set for the 22nd of April between Ballyheane and Real Tubber at 3pm in McSharry Park Sligo.

[Raheen]

From the Athenry FC website:

Athenry senior team qualified for their third Connacht cup final in a row with a 1-0 win over Mervue United. Conor Cannon scored with a diving header after an excellent cross from Ray Moran. a dubious refereeing decision saw Athenry reduced to 10 men for the last 10 minutes. Athenry's excellent defence restricted Mervue to very few chances. Athenry now play Wesport in the final.

[fatboyslim]

anyone have the starting teams that played the semi finals athenry v mervue

[Raheen]

From the Mervue United website:

Connacht Junior Cup (Semi-Final)
Mervue Utd 0-1 Athenry

By Peter O Connor

Mervue's Connacht Junior Cup aspirations were ended on Sunday morning, following a 1-0 defeat by junior rivals Athenry. A goal 12 minutes from time from Conor Cannon saw holders Athenry advance to a Connacht Final meeting with Westport Utd in May after a very tight close fought game at Fahy's Field.

The game itself produced few chances for either side ,but it will be the home side who are left wondering what might have been, having arguably had the better of the limited chances on offer.

The game itself highlighted the defensive qualities of both sides, and this was witnessed by a large gathering of spectators, which included members of the Westport United team who would await the winners in the final.

In terms of creativity, the game failed to produce any memorable moments of magic. However, in terms of intensity, it is fair to say that both sides were certainly not lacking on the day, and the prize at stake clearly meant a lot to every man out there.

The rivalry between these two teams over the past few seasons has been immense, and the truth is that there is very little between the two sets of players. This however was the day of the visitors, who scored a scrappy winner with twelve minutes to go through Connor Cannon's determination following a swift breakaway move.

It seemed inevitable that this one was heading for extra time before that late goal, and even though the home side heaped the pressure on for the final quarter, it was not to be for the current League leaders.

On to defend their trophy then for Athenry, who celebrated as if the trophy had been won here. The visiting Westport players would like to think they will have something to say about that.

As for Padraig Kilgannon's Mervue side, they can take some consolation by defending their league title, as they lie five points clear with only three games remaining. They also defend their Michael Byrne Cup title as a local derby with neighbours, East Utd, await in the semi-final of that competition in Castlepark.

Mervue Utd - Griffin, Connolly, Dowling, O'Connor, McHugh, Ryan (Ward '77), Walsh, McWalter, Cunningham, Kelly and Meaney (Concannon '56).

Athenry - McDonagh, Rabbitte, Forde, Kineen, Byrne, Moran, O'Donovan, Crowe, Fahy, Cannon and Lawless.

Referee - Vincent Carew

[Longshanks]

All the best to Real Tubber on Sunday in the Shield final, I hope ye make the most of that last gasp winner ye got against us in the semi. Hope to get into the game too

[southern red]

Cheers Longshanks, hopefully we'll get over the final hurdle.

[Round Tower]

If there is any lads from the Athenry club on this,i believe there is some lads traveling to Westport this evening too watch them play a match a league game,THAT GAME IS NOW BEING PLAYED IN bALLYHEANE, which is out the Ballinrobe road out of Castlebar,straight road and the pitch is on the left hand side as you go through the village.

[Longshanks]

Real Tubber 1 Ballyheane 1 (3-4 pens)

match report from A View From The Touchline website:

In the Connacht Cup Shield Final Real Tubber took up the challenge of Mayo side Ballyheane at the Ray Mac Sharry Complex on a glorious afternoon made for football. The first half was a tame affair and in fact it was only with twenty minutes remaining of normal time when it came to life. Real Tubber attacking down the right seen Fergal Mc Donagh rise highest in the penalty area with a great goal pass the helpless David Mc Hale in the Ballyheane goal. Matters got even worse for Ballyheane when Alan Tuffy was sent off after a rush of blood to the head seen him tackle and upend the real Tubber substitute in the technical area. Then with eight minutes remaining a long ball into the Real Tubber Area caused confusion and Alan Mc Hugh could not believe his luck as his effort found the back of the Real Tubber net despite the efforts of keeper Ross Mc Carrick and the game was plunged into extra time. Mark Burke was playing a stormer in midfield for Real Tubber but despite the extra man they never capitalised on it to any extent and so it went to the dreaded penalty shoot out. Both keepers made saves but in the end the final spot kick fell to Ballyheane’s Mathew Conroy and he made no mistake with a thunderous shot past Ross Mc Carrick to lift the Connacht Cup Shield to Ballyheane for the first time in their history and well deserved it was playing with only ten men for well over thirty minutes. Alan Mc Hugh was awarded Man of the Match as selected by the journalists present.

[Thunderblaster]

Westport Utd 6/4, Athenry 7/4 according to Paddy Power bookies. Personally, I'd have Athenry as favourites; Westport are sweating it out on the fitness of four players for tomorrow. As much as I'd love to see the galacticos win, I think that the experience of Athenry could cause us some problems. However, I think that Benny Lawless will be a loss for them. Fingers crossed on ending the 25 year famine.

[Round Tower]

Good luck too Westport in the final today

[Closed Account]

Good luck Westport. My uncle was playing for ye last time ye won it.

[Round Tower]

Congrats to Westport wining on penalties

[Gavs Up]

Well done to Westport on winning Connaught cup brilliant achievent great for Mayo football

[Athenryboy]

Well done to Westport. A good footballing town and 2 goods sides had a good battle.
We cant get the rub of the green all the time.

Until we meet ye again next year in the final!!, Enjoy the Summer lads and might see a few of ye in Poland!!

[fatboyslim]

antone have the starting teams? game review? great achievement by wesport to wn it and also by athenry to get back to another final (especially missing the players they were missing)

[badker]

Good report here cuz

http://inform.fai.ie/league/clubs/portals/mafl/#topofpage

teams

Westport Utd
G Cunningham, A O'Malley, K Joyce, S Tagg, M Geraghty, D Cameron, A Carroll, D Scahill, D Hoban, P Fitzgerald, V O'Malley subs D Browne, G McLoughlin, D Hoban, M McNally, M McGreal, S Higgins, J Lawless.
Athenry
J Gralish, S Rabbette, D McDonagh, R Kinneen, P Byrne, G Delaney, A O'Donovan, S Crowe, C Fahy, C Cannon, G Forde, subs R Moran, D Cullen, D Carroll, A Fahy, E Byrne, N Hynes, M Colby.
Man of the match was awarded to Westport goalkeeper Gary Cunningham, with two crucial saves in the penalty shoot out.

Referee - Tommy Cormican, Eugene Deering, Keith Renolyds and Tony Kelly.

[Number_1]

Two Mayo teams winning Connaught Cup and Connaught Shield on penalties. Great achievement, congratulations to Westport United and Ballyheane AFC.