Westport made light work of having to play three championship games in seven days last Saturday night when they cruised home to a six point win over Kiltimagh in the Mayo Intermediate Championship final in MacHale Park. On Sunday, they will be back in Mayo GAA HQ where they take on Galway champions Monivea-Abbey for a place in the final of the Connacht Club Intermediate Championship.
On the same weekend that Westport were drawing their semifinal with Shrule-Glenncorrib, their opponents on Sunday were putting a beating on Kilmore from Roscommon in the Connacht quarter final, running out 1-16 to 0-9 in Tuam Stadium. The Galway side were taking on a Roscommon side who had won their home championship a day earlier in a game that went to extra time and saw two of their men sent to the line on straight red cards. But the Galway men went about their business in a professional manner leading that game at half time by 0-9 to 0-4, with Cathal Coleman, Cillian McDaid, and Brian Flaherty all kicking two scores in that 30 minutes, and Caelom Mulry, Craig Kennedy, and Eoin Roche chipping in with one apiece. Their goal came midway through the second half with midfielder Trevor Mullins rattling the net to seal the win.
Westport will fancy their chances of winning this one, and with inter-county men like Kevin Keane a newly crowned four time All Star in their ranks they have plenty of experience to call on. Last Saturday, Fionn McDonagh was their main man, with the wing forward covering every blade of grass on the field and kicking five of his side's 10 points, some return for his efforts. While they were always in control of this contest the 13 wides they kicked on the way to victory is something that Westport will be looking to take out of their game, as they know that they cannot be that error prone in attack if they are to follow in the footsteps of last year's Mayo champions Hollymount-Carramore and win provincial honours at this grade.
Getting back up to senior for next was the number one priority for Westport this year, but having tasted success last Saturday night, it could spur them on to greater things if the mood catches them, and with Lewis Cawley, Shane Scott, Phil Keegan, and Paul Lambert they have players who can spur them on to that glory.
