The FAI Junior Cup is a competition that has captured the hearts and minds of Westport people for the best part since its inception back in 1923, and it's a competition that heralded this club's finest hour, that famous sunny Sunday afternoon in Kilkenny back in 2005. Also it's a competition full of folk tales and lore as legendary games that gripped this town has been passed from generation to generation as famous matches that graced the Sports Park and other grounds produced famous victories and even very proud and gallant defeats. The most famous victories over the years without winning the competition outright were the true David v Goliath matches in which nobody gave United a chance and the famous United sides of yesteryear would send the big guns packing. Move forward to 2019 and a huge game at United Park, the first one of this magnitude to grace the new home of Westport United and how ironic it is that the FAI Junior Cup has actually come back home close to the site of Westport United's first ground, the Sodality Field where Westport United's home games were played prior to partition and for some years after in both the Irish Junior Cup and the FAI Junior Cup. One supporter remarked following Westport United's win against Ballinasloe Town that the club needed a big home draw to christen United Park and with Usher Celtic coming to town as the force to be reckoned with in the competition, having defeated Sheriff FC last year and AUL Premier League contenders along with being on this competition's favourites, this had the ingredients of a christening ceremony of a spectacular nature. The club called the faithful together for this lavish encounter and the famous Red and Black Army were certainly not found wanting, with hundreds descending upon the newly-venerated Golf Course Road venue, whose clubhouse is adorned with historic chapters of a competition that holds a romantic embrace with the people of Westport.

Westport, currently under the guidance of interim manager Padraig Burns after John Russell joined LOI side Sligo Rovers, came into the tie on the back of some intensive preparations over the Christmas period, which included two high quality friendly matches and with a lot of work behind the scenes, git their homework done on the crack Dublin outfit.

Westport started the brighter of the two sides, always looking a threat on the counter. This was first evident after eight minutes. A break on the wing saw Jesper Frisch in space, but his cross went just behind David Hoban. However, in the meantime, Usher Celtic had a penalty appeal waved down, much to the relief of the home support and to the exasperation of the visitors. Westport continued to look the more threatening of the two sides for the remainder of the half. Eight minutes before half-time, Peter Corcoran, this time, found himself breaking down the wing, but he failed to find a teammate with his cross. Their biggest chance came on the stroke of half-time. A failed clearance from Usher fell into the path of Hoban. But one-on-one with the 'keeper, he shot straight at him, and the follow-up strike from Corcoran went harmlessly wide, as the sides remained goalless at the break.

Westport came into the second half with the same level of energy and determination that was characteristic of the first half display, buoyed on by the large and vocal support and they continued to look the more likely of the two teams to win in the second-half, with a near 25 yard strike from Corcoran going just wide. Peter Corcoran then tried his luck from further out, his 30-yard effort once again going agonisingly wide. United were at this point relishing the contest and while the seasoned and experienced players like David Cameron, Joe Lawless and David Hoban were veterans of big matches such as this one, the younger players were certainly thriving with the occasion and they were not in anyways fazed on the pitch with the support giving them even greater belief. Going into the last 15 minutes, the pressure on the Usher backline was beginning to tell. Westport's biggest chance came after 77 minutes. A flick-on from Hoban found Darren Browne but his brilliant lob, with the 'keeper off his line in no man's land, looked to be goal-bound, but his effort went just over. But going into injury time, just when it looked like another half-hour of football was upon us, the two biggest moments of the tie happened in close range. The first was a brillian save from Gary Cunningham, who up to that point wasn't really tested but the one second of danger to the United rearguard saw the keeper acrobatically tip the ball over on his left hand side. Next came the moment that was as symbolic as the water poured over the baby's head at a christening ceremony. It began when Darren Browne received the ball in the middle of the park and played an accurately measured slide rule pass into the left channel for substitute Phil Keegan to race onto, and his effort was deflected into the back of the net by the unfortunate Usher Celtic defender to spark wild celebrations among the home contingent. The reaction from Darren Browne and Mikey O'Brien when the ball crossed the line was almost Marco Tardelli-esque with their passionate celebration towards the home supporters, reflecting how much it meant to them but their teammates were equally as ecstatic as they joined in the celebrations at the corner flag with David Hoban firing a rallying cry. The next couple of minutes were tense as the supporters were baying for the final whistle, but once it went, cue wild celebrations from the Westport contingent. Some of the supporters waited on to applaud their heroes off the pitch and the players were really over the moon with joy and boy oh boy, how spectacular was that christening ceremony.

Westport, currently under the guidance of interim manager Padraig Burns after John Russell joined LOI side Sligo Rovers, had heroes all over the pitch. Joe Lawless, Mikey O'Brien, Darren Browne, Peter Corcoran and substitute Phillip Keegan to name but a few and also, inadvertently, the unfortunate Usher Celtic defender whose 91st minute own goal winner etched his name into Westport Utd folklore but every player bar none played their part in a memorable victory and there is no player that came off the hallowed turf and could say that they could have done better because man for man, Westport United were magnificent. This wasn't backs to the wall defending, it was a display with discipline and tactical astuteness and United had the lions share of opportunities on goal. The great battles of the Sodality Field, Munster's Field, Coyne's Field and the Sports Park that produced local heroes is now joined by United Park. It opened in 2016 but 2019 will now be remembered as the year that United Park got indoctrinated into local folklore with the greatest christening ceremony it could ever receive.

Westport will be eager to learn their opponents for the last 16 in the forthcoming draw, but one thing's for certain, as much as there are lots of very good teams left in the competition and all will present United with a very difficult challenge, nobody will relish playing them.