Members of the Willow Park team, winners of the Women’s Division A and Women’s Cup with Willie Healy, CCFL vice-chairman.

Monksland and Willow Park among winners in CCFL awards

Kieran Galvin

Published: Thu 9 Jun 2022, 2:37 PM

Last updated: Thu 9 Jun 2022, 2:38 PM

Willow Park’s Holly Cassidy and Mark Greene of Monksland United were among the winners in the Combined Counties Football League Awards last Friday night.

Cassidy was chosen for the Women's Player Merit Award, while Greene was selected for the Young Player Merit Award.

The Willow Park women’s team completed a league and cup double, with Cassidy’s goalscoring prowess absolutely key to their success.

The 20-year-old Longford native joined Willow Park for the 2021/2022 season, having previously played at underage level with both Athlone Town and Longford Town.

She played 14 games (both league and cup) and scored a total of 27 goals over the course of the season, described as “a phenomenal strike rate by any standard” in the award citation.

Cassidy has secured a scholarship to the USA to play with Allen Community College in Kansas which she will take up in August.

“She is most definitely one to watch for the future and will be missed greatly by all her teammates where she has made friends for life,” said the award citation.

Greene helped Monksland to win the CCFL Under-19 Premier Division and they also reached the quarter-finals of the LFA Under-19 Cup.

“He has excelled for his club throughout the season helping his club to win its respective league,” said the award citation. “He is competitive, skilful, energetic and has a keen eye for scoring goals. Some of the goals he scored this season were vital goals in key games.”

Mark Greene of Monksland United receives the Young Player Merit Award from CCFL chairman Kevin Egan (right) and Peter Doyle (LFA).

The Contribution to Football Award went to Athlone native Liam Lennon, who has been associated with Birr Town and the Midland Schoolboys/Girls League for many years.

The Senior Player Merit Award for men’s football went to Luke Dignam, captain of the Clara Town team who won the Senior Division title. Clara overcame Monksland United in a play-off to claim their first top flight league crown in several years. Clara also won the Paddy Cotter Cup, defeating Monksland in the final.

Killeigh FC was chosen for the coveted Club of the Year award, with Abbeyleix Athletic selected for the Club Merit Award:

The Frank O'Connell Hall of Fame award went to Alan Killeen of St Aengus from Mountrath in Laois.

The CCFL awards took place at the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore on Friday night last. In common with so many other events, it returned after a Covid-enforced absence of three years.

Chris Hand (CCFL honorary secretary) and Kevin Egan (CCFL chairman) both spoke on the night and the gathering was also addressed by LFA administrator Peter Doyle.

All clubs who were successful in any of the plethora of league or cup competitions organised by the CCFL received presentations on the night.

CCFL award winners 2022

Fair Play Award: Cloneygowan Celtic.

Special Appreciation awards: Killina Presentation Secondary School; Zatori Results Ltd.

Young Player Merit Award: Mark Greene (Monksland Utd).

Women's Player Merit Award: Holly Cassidy (Willow Park).

Senior Player Merit Award: Luke Dignam (Clara Town).

Club Merit Award: Abbeyleix Athletic.

Frank O'Connell Hall of Fame: Alan Killeen (St Aengus).

Contribution to Football Award: Liam Lennon (Birr Town).

Club of the Year: Killeigh FC.

*See more photos in this week's Westmeath Independent.