Published: Wednesday, 10th March, 2010 5:00pm

Willow face Clonmel in last eight of FAI Junior Cup

A massive day in the history of Willow Park FC looms large this weekend, as they get ready to face Clonmel Town in the quarter-finals of the prestigious FAI Junior Cup on Sunday (Willow Park, 2pm).

With local rivals St Peter's going all the way to the final last year, before eventually succumbing to Ballymun Utd, Willow Park have taken up the baton for Athlone this time around, securing a place in the last eight thanks to a hard-fought 2-0 win away to Leeside (Cork) last Sunday.

Benny Magennis put Willow ahead in the opening stages and Robbie Shine's 70th minute penalty put the matter to bed.

Clonmel will be very tough opposition though, having knocked Willow out of the competition two years ago (3-2 after extra-time in Willow Park). The Tipperary side also won the competition in 1994 and the manager from that year, Martin Quinlivan, is back in charge, having replaced Charlie McKeever this season.

However, it's widely acknowledged Willow Park are much stronger now than they were two years ago, with the likes of Ronan Frawley and Colin Fortune adding experience and know-how to a side already brimming with talented players.

Clonmel were actually eliminated from last season's competition at the semi-final stage by St Peter's, who Willow Park subsequently beat in the opening round of this year's cup.

Willow Park manager Tony O'Sullivan admits his side face a very difficult encounter this weekend. In fact, the Willow manager believes Clonmel Town and Pike Rovers are now most people's favourites to lift the trophy.

However, most observers of local junior football will recognise Willow are now a match for anyone at this level, and it would come as a great surprise if they were not to push Clonmel all the way on Sunday.

O'Sullivan said: "I suppose some people might believe we owe Clonmel one after two years ago, but that's not the way to go about it. It's another big game and we go into with the same frame of mind and positive attitude as any other game.

This is a great opportunity for us to do something really memorable and hopefully we can play well on Sunday, and reach the semi-finals.

We know Clonmel are a very good side, we saw that a couple of years ago, but we have a very strong squad now, and feel we've a good chance to keep going in this competition."

Ronan Frawley, a crucial signing earlier in the season after spending his entire career in the League of Ireland, is carrying a slight knock ahead of Sunday's game, but should be okay to play, while midfielder Mark Nicholson - son of well known coach Padraig Nicholson - also looks set to shrug off an injury and play. Gary McHugh is another player who sustained an injury against Leeside last Sunday, but, again, he should be fit to start this weekend.

Clonmel have high hopes of going all the way in this year's competition, having knocked out the reigning champions Ballymun Utd in the last 32 stage. Last weekend, they saw off Killarney Athletic in the last 16 (4-2).

In goal, Richie Ryan is an important player for Clonmel, while the likes of Aaron Moroney, Tony Scully, Rory Kiely, Ian Barnes, and the Ryans (Barry and Stephen), are significant performers for the Munster-men.

Willow Park though, are unbeaten in all competitions this season, and have a well-balanced squad, with a good mix of experience, speed, skill and intelligence scattered throughout the panel, and their forward players, Brian Frawley, Aidan and Colm Hyland, and Benny Magennis, could be of huge importance when Sunday comes along.