30/08/2026
Over 35s Premier League Final
West Utd 2-1 Oughterard Aet
Richard Quinn ⚽️
Simon Murray ⚽️
West Utd captured the Over 35 Title by the skin of their teeth after a pulsating battle with Oughterard in Castle Park yesterday.
Oughterard had the 1st chance after two minutes when the dangerous Martin Coady was desperately unlucky to see a great effort come crashing off the woodwork.
Just a minute later a brilliant West Utd counter attack saw Mixer Devaney brilliantly tee up Richie Quinn on the edge of the box to fire home a brilliant opener.
Oughterard were stunned having been a whisker away from taken the lead a minute earlier,West smelt blood and took control Sean Murphy hit the crossbar with a wonder strike from 40 yards and Oughterard Goalie Jody Daly was in inspired form between the posts.
Huge credit to Oughterard who weathered the West storm and Martin Coady showed the unbelievable quality he has with a great solo goal to leave it 1-1 at the break.
The 2nd half was even enough and Blain Sheridan kept West level with a sublime save and at the other end Jody Daly was like a human wall with some inspired saves.
The last 15 minutes was all West as Oughterard clung on and Daly continued his one man crusade to stop West winning the game in 90 minutes.
With Oughterard looking gassed,It looked like extra time would see West continue to push it was the opposite,Whatever Gary Beatty put in the full time water worked a charm.
Oughterard were rejuvenated and West were out on their feet,Oughterard were desperately unlucky not to take the lead twice but in Simon Murray West have a player who has been the difference all his career and so he proved again with an unbelievable headed goal from a Sean Murphy delivery and it had to be good to beat Jody Daly.
It was literally the last touch of the 1st period of extra time,Oughterard had 10 minutes to save themselves and to their credit they threw everything at West but in Enda Farragher West have a man who would head concrete blocks and the ball was like a magnet to his head,Darren Corcoran beside him was following Farragher's lead by blocking and clearing everything.
Oughterard had one last Chance with a corner in injury time and their was huge relief when Blain Sheridan came and claimed a brilliant catch in a crowded area.
Special mention to Sean Gavin who was a midfield powerhouse all day despite not being long off a flight from Dubai and Keeper Blain Sheridan only landed back in the Country a few hours before the game.
It was a great squad effort all season with Simon Murray and Sean Keogh providing most of the firepower and the squad was brilliantly led by Captain Mixer Devaney,Keelan Lynch was another ever present all season and was rock solid at Full Back.
Huge credit to manager Daniel Browne who had a lot to deal with all summer with lots of unavailability until the Semi Final and Final stage but as he said himself it doesn't get serious until the knockout stages.
So when the shadow boxing was over he brought in the heavy hitter as his Assistant Big Al Cubbard who in his own words wins trophies and so they did and the dream team delivered again.
A word for Oughterard who were outstanding throughout and could easily of ended up in the winners enclosure,A huge thank you to Pa Spellman and East Utd for the use of Castlepark,Pa has the pitch in top shape as always.
To Martin Hughes and The GFA thanks for running another brilliant summer of football for all the older players to continue playing and being active.
A Final Thank you to the match officials Padraig Kevin and Mick,It was a very tough battle but it was played in the spirit this tournament was intended.
Well Done Players and Management 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬⚽️⚽️⚽️
