McGowan seals famous win

(AET) (St Peter"s win 8-7 on pens) ST Peter"s have had many famous victories in the past, but few have been as dramatic as that which they achieved last Sunday afternoon in Milebush Park, Castlebar. In the county ground of the Mayo Association Football League, they knocked out 2005 FAI Junior Cup winners Westport Utd in a penalty shoot-out, with centre half Rory McGowan clinching victory after a tense and exciting affair. A total of 16 spot kicks were required to separate the teams, and this came after 120 minutes of end-to-end, action-packed football. That St Peter"s victory was achieved after the first-half dismissal of Stephen Mullan made it all the more dramatic. Despite bitingly cold conditions, there was a large and enthusiastic crowd, including a vocal minority supporting the away team. Wind-assisted Westport enjoyed the bulk of possession in the early stages, but created no clear-cut chances before Mark Sherlock opened the scoring for St Peter"s after 19 minutes. The front man, who was always a threat, collected a cross from the left before thumping the ball into the Utd net. Adrian Carberry looked certain to double the midlanders" lead a minute later, but headed just wide after finding himself in space in the box. But Westport were getting into their stride, and equalised after 32 minutes. Danny Scahill fired in a searching cross from the left, and David Hoban netted with a glancing header. Sherlock tested goalkeeper Martin McGreal within seconds of the kick-off, but Peter"s were then reduced to ten men after striker Stephen Mullan was sent off for a second bookable offence. Utd had most of the ball in the early part of the second half, but their only decent opportunity came to nothing. David Cameron got to David Hoban"s pass just ahead of Peter"s goalkeeper Keith Hynes, but somehow, the ball stayed out of the net. As in the first half, the visitors then struck to devastating effect. David Donoghue swung in a pitch-perfect cross from the right, and Mark Sherlock headed home from inside the six-yard box. Within two minutes, parity had been restored. Keith Hynes kept out Vinny O"Malley"s effort, but Gerry McLoughlin was on hand to score from the rebound. Joe Lawless and David Horkan put in big tackles, and Westport pressed for much of the rest of normal time. But ten-man Peter"s put in a heroic effort, and Tom Silke, Gareth Gaffey and Patrick Craughwell all made important interceptions, while substitute Aidan Warde worked hard. Westport sub Eoghan McHale tested Hynes with an 89th minute drive, but the game went into extra-time. Thoughts of Liverpool-Chelsea were put on hold, and assistant referee Liam McEntee could search for a thicker pair of gloves. Both sides had chances to snatch the winner in the first additional period. Patrick Craughwell put David Donoghue through for a one-on-one situation, but Martin McGreal managed to touch the ball around for a corner. At the other end, Eoghan McHale had a wonderful opportunity after beating the Peter"s offside trap, but couldn"t beat Hynes. Little of note occurred in the second half of extra-time, and so a superb advertisement for junior football would be decided by a penalty shoot-out. The standard of spot kicks was exceptionally high, as the first 14 penalties were all scored. Westport"s Brian Kennedy, Ray McLoughlin, Joe Lawless, Kevin Joyce, Danny Scahill, goalkeeper Martin McGreal and Vinny O"Malley all netted, while Pascal Dillon, Adrian Carberry, Brian Caldwell, Tom Silke, Patrick Craughwell, Gareth Gaffey and Aidan Warde replied in kind for Peter"s. That remarkable run was finally ended with the 15th penalty, which was taken by Westport Utd centre half Martin Geraghty. There was some confusion in the stand as to whether it had crossed the line, or if it had, whether it constituted a successful kick, since it appeared to have been stopped initially. No goal was awarded - the correct decision, from my enquiries afterwards - and this became clear when St Peter"s defender Rory McGowan stuck the 16th penalty in the net, and was quickly engulfed by ecstatic team-mates. The Athlone side now await the draw for the next round, due to be held next Sunday morning, while Westport turn their attention to the Connacht Cup. ST PETER"S: Keith Hynes; Gareth Gaffey; Paul Murphy; Tom Silke; Rory McGowan; Patrick Craughwell; David Donoghue; Michael Collins; Mark Sherlock; Stephen Mullan; Adrian Carberry. Subs used: Aidan Warde for Collins (59 mins); Brian Caldwell for Sherlock (100); Pascal Dillon for Donoghue (108). WESTPORT UTD: Martin McGreal; Colin Navin; Kevin Joyce; Martin Geraghty; Joe Lawless; Dave Cameron; David Horkan; Danny Scahill; Vinny O"Malley; David Hoban; Gerry McLoughlin. Subs used: Eoghan McHale for Hoban (70 mins); Brian Kennedy for G McLoughlin (83); Ray McLoughlin for Cameron (103). Referee: Jimmy Blake (Castlebar).