Connaught Cup 2011/12

[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:

[SIZE=2]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.[/SIZE]

[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/po...afl/#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.