Willow Park to get Leinster Senior season underway

Willow Park start their league campaign in the second highest flight of the Leinster Senior League this weekend.

The Athlone club will travel to old rivals Collinstown on Sunday in both sides’ first game at Senior 1 Sunday level a year since their last competitive game.

Captain Niall Scullion says everyone involved in the club is delighted the season is set to commence.

“It’s great to be back after almost a year out,” he told the Westmeath Independent.

After four successive promotions since their arrival in Leinster Senior League, Willow Park now join an exciting and high calibre division and the experienced Scullion is under no illusions as to the challenge ahead.

“It’s my second year in Willow Park and I think this is going to be a very good standard this season,” Scullion said.

He said the young squad with a sprinkling of experience are excited by the prospect of testing themselves against quality opposition.

The squad and management under Declan Holohan are once again targeting promotion as the aim. However, former Athlone Town player Scullion is keen to point out that, given the strength of the division, a midtable position would also be a satisfactory outcome.

“I think we will do well but we also have to be realistic about the task ahead.”

There have been some exciting new signings at the club this season but a number of experienced long-serving players are playing with the club’s second team and the squad have had a number of injury setbacks in pre-season.

Willow Park are fielding three men’s senior teams this year, the Leinster Senior League side, the CCFL and a development squad. Players from the development squad have been training with the first team and Scullion is excited by their potential.

“The young lads have really contributed to the club in pre-season and some of them have shown they are capable of having a role with the Leinster Senior League team during the season.”

After the long layoff due to Covid-19, Scullion predicts it will take all teams three or four games to find their feet.

He is encouraging football supporters in Athlone to come down to DPD Park for home games, stating that the club is playing at the highest level of any side in the wider area other than Athlone Town.

“There are going to be some great games down in Willow Park this year and we’ll fear no one on our own patch.”