Corinthians 14 v Westport 11 (aet)0

Back in yonder days, Westport would have been quietly content this week basking in the achievement of securing a well deserved replay from a trip to the reigning Connacht league champions.

Alas, the days of matches like this being decided in a logical manner are gone. Now we have extra time first and then a set of vague and bizarre criteria to separate sides if that doesn’t work.

Extra time was enough on Sunday as a second period penalty kick from home out half Barry O’Sullivan gave Corinthians a gutsy cup win and a place in the first round proper. Westport didn’t deserve to lose but neither did Corinthians.

This was a gripping encounter in horrible weather conditions. Saturating showers and a fairly hefty breeze played a key part in proceedings. Both sides struggled with the elements but they played their part in the story line.

Westport had first use of the wind and made in roads early thanks to some typically astute tactical play from player-coach Eddie Walsh at ten. He kicked in open play and turned the Corinthians back three at regular intervals.

Walsh kicked three points in that first quarter of play, Ryan Cafferkey struck a bolt of a drop goal from long range also and Westport lead 6-0.

By the mid way point of the half, Corinthians were getting an edge at scrum time and their lineout was superb off the back of Alan Walsh throws and the dominant work of Seamus Murphy and Donnadha Phelan.

Westport initially repelled themin defense, Paddy Kennedy was fearless in leading the charge in that regard. John Paul Walsh was at his unyielding best also. – They are big game player and the cup always brings out the best in such stock.

The first home try, when it came, was a little out of the blew. Corinthians had been pushed back ten metres to the 22 metre line having being within a metre of scoring and Hugh Griffin at scrum grubber kicked to regain territory. The bounce eluded Cafferkey at full back and out of nowhere Ronnie Ferguson pounced for the score.

Corinthians didn’t convert but Barry O’Sullivan kicked a penalty on the half hour after Pat Hoban was penalized and sin binned for an off the ball scuffle as he attempted to take a quick free kick. It had seemed harmless at first but proved costly with the score now at 8-6.

Westport finished the first half and started the second half on the front foot but two separate surges on the Corinthian line, yielded nothing.

The home side appeared to have weathered the storm, literally and now seemed likely to push on with O’Sullivan at out half in slick form and the likes of Barry McCann and John Dileen to the fore up front. However, a combination of good defence and unforced errors meant they failed to score.

Westport capitalized with a chance out of nowhere. Replacement wing Philip Keegan countered a loose Corinthians clearance kick and took play to half way. Paddy Kennedy took play into Corinthians territory on the next phase and set a perfect platform.

Pat Hoban at scrum half then spread play wide with the impressive Aidan Kilroy linking with Callum Southgate on a swift move through the hands and the winger then releasing Hastings on the overlap for a sprint to the line from 30 metres. A memorable score and an 11-8 lead.

Alas it came a little too early. Corinthians still had twelves minutes and to their immense credit, they rallied and leveled through the boot of O’Sullivan who kicked a superb long range penalty.

O’Sullivan had another which scraped just wide deep in injury time but made amends in the second half of a tense extra time period. Westport couldn’t find the answer.

Westport: R Cafferkey; C Southgate, O Joyce, A Kilroy, J O’Malley; E Walsh, P Hoban; P Kennedy, A Cusack, P Conway; E Mullowney, P Corcoran; C Hastings, B Prendergast, JP Walsh.

Westport: M O’Brien, M Kennedy, R Martin, J Corcoran, P Keegan.

Corinthians: R Ferguson; K Dunne, S Cooke, C Begley, R Forbes; B O’Sullivan, H Griffin; C O’Shea, A Walsh, P McCreanor; D Phelan, S Murphy; Mark Byrne, J Dileen, B McCann.

Corinthians: D Barbour, D Broderick, K Williams, G O’Sullivan, E Kilroy

Ref S Phillips