HOUGH IS THE HERO IN CUP THRILLER
Donacarney Westport Utd 1 0
JAKE Hough struck the decisive blow with just four minutes remaining to send Donacarney White into the quarter-finals of the SFAI Cup in a dramatic climax at Castlemartin on Sunday afternoon.
Despite the shortage of goals it was a pulsating game and the outcome was tough on Westport who gave everything.
The last-16 tie opened with the Mayo visitors completely on top and excellent over-lapping play by both their full-backs pinned the home side down for the opening 20 minutes.
After a barrage of shots by their forward players Evin Durkin and Killian McGinn, along with some excellent moves on the wing, it seemed they would go into the break in the lead, but Donacarney held firm in defence.
A dazzling run by Cormac O’Donoghue gave a hint that the second half would be different and the words of coaches John Hough and Sean Brennan did the trick during the half-time break.
On the restart Donacarney reorganised and a link-up between Gavin Darcy and Hough caused panic in the Westport defence.
With Conor Brennan prominent in midfield and tenacious play from Luke Walsh and O’Donoghue, the home team side began to take command, but with time running out the tie looked to be heading for extra time and possibly even the lottery of penalty kicks. However, the Donacarney boys had other ideas and four minutes from the end of normal time an inswinging corner was headed skywards and the impressive Hough slammed the dropping ball to the roof of the net.
This history-making win, putting Donacarney into the last eight of the SFAI Cup and securing a place in the North Leinster Final, has certainly put them on the map! DONACARNEY: Jack Martin, Jake Hough, Conor Brennan, Jamie Gamble, Cormac O’Donoghue, Alex Wade, Carl Mc Guinness, Gavin Darcy, Luke Walsh, Niall Kelly, Oisin Corcoran, Naoise Maguire. Coaches: John Hough, Sean Brennan.