Westport United’s dream of FAI Junior Cup glory ended for another year in Fairview last Sunday, when Sheriff YC knocked them out of the FAI Junior Cup at the seventh round stage for the second year in a row.
John Rock scored his second brace in as many weeks in the competition when he bagged Sheriff YC’s first and third goals in a 3-0 win, with Kevin Lynch bagging their second goal, only a few minutes after Colin Cameron was shown a second yellow card and reduced Westport United to 10 men for the last 23 minutes.
It was not all Sheriff YC during the 90 minutes, with Westport United applying plenty of pressure on the astroturf field, but failing to make the breakthrough. David Hoban hit the post from the edge of the area, not long after Rock had put the hosts into the lead on the five minute mark, with Phil Keegan not able to make the rebound count.
Westport had a couple of chances early in the second half, but neither Hoban nor Darren Browne was able to convert them. Five minutes into the second half, Sheriff YC were awarded a penalty kick but Rock missed the target with his effort. But after Colin Cameron was sent for an early shower and the homeside bagged their second goal, the game was up for the battling Coveys. If the injured David Cameron had been available to play it could have been a different story, but for this year Westport United’s dreams of picking up a second FAI Junior Cup have been put on hold.
The Mayo League treble winners have a few weeks off now, before they get back to action in the Connacht Junior Cup against City United from Sligo at home on Sunday, March 1.
