Hope springs eternal for Athletic as Willow Park are knocked out

Willow Park 1 Mullingar Athletic 2

by John Dingle

Mullingar Athletic put aside their indifferent league form to knock Willow Park out of the Combined Counties Cup at DPD Park, Athlone last Friday night.

After an uneventful opening half, the tie sprang to life after the break with all three goals coming in an eight-minute spell up to the hour mark. Willow opened the scoring through Ryan Gaffey, but the lead was short-lived as Efe Siode soon got Athletic back on level terms.

The visitors then struck for what proved to be the winning goal, Keith Hope then scorer, with Willow possibly lucky not to have made their exit with a heavier defeat.

Athletic had been struggling at the bottom of the Senior Division table but were more than a match in the opening half for third placed Willow Park as knockout fare seemed to inspire them. The first half though was a low key affair with the best chance of the deadlock being broken only coming close to the interval.

The home team earned the first corner kick after three minutes with Nathan Williams then firing over for Jimmy Greene’s team. Keith Hope had Mullingar’s first chance when shooting wide on seven minutes. Neil Kenny had a shot saved with a second corner then falling Willow's way. Tadgh Nolan replied for the visitors with an off target attempt and a header which was saved by goalkeeper Shane McEnery.

Rhys Keena had a further chance for Athletic but the half soon entered the doldrums only to be reignited with the best chance of the half on 38 minutes. Kenny, from the left, sent the ball towards an unguarded goal but Mullingar’s Ben Treanor got back to clear the ball off the goal line.

Ciaran McGuinness ended the action in the half when heading wide for Willow with neither side deserving to have the advantage heading off for the break.

Mullingar continued to impress when play resumed but after having the better of the early exchanges, they soon found themselves in arrears. It seemed to reflect a campaign which had brought them little luck to date.

Nolan sent an inviting cross from the left into the six-yard box with a corner soon following for Athletic. Efe Siode was not long in the action as a substitute and had an early opportunity to mark his introduction but McEnery did well to parry his shot.

It was a surprise then when the scoring was opened by Willow after 52 minutes from their first chance of the half. The goal fell to a familiar scorer as Ryan Gaffey shot to the roof of the net from Neil Kenny’s left wing cross.

It may have been expected that Willow would now press home their advantage against struggling opponents, but there was an immediate response from Mullingar which soon paid a dividend.

Ben Shaw had a shot again pushed away by McEnery with Siode firing over as Mullingar mounted a comeback.

The visitors were worthy of being back on level terms after 58 minutes. A free kick from Brian Kavanagh was pushed away by the keeper but Siode was on hand to force the loose ball home.

The comeback was completed on the hour mark with what proved to be the winning goal. Hope got in to fire past the keeper's right to shock the Athlone team.

The number nine soon had a chance to grab a second but his close range effort was again blocked by a busy McEnery. Mullingar continued to dominate the remainder and had a number of opportunities to seal victory.

Jordan Scally should have made it 3-1 to Athletic after 73 minutes but blasted over with the goal at his mercy. The chances continued to be created by the visitors with Willow facing a surprise exit in tame fashion.

Neilas Vitkauskas shot across the box from the right to be followed by another effort which found the side netting. As full-time approached, Scally fired wide with lively sub Siode also off target following an Athletic counter attack.

There could have been late drama in stoppage time. Four additional minutes had been played when Athletic conceded a free kick. Willow piled forward in an attempt at forcing the tie into extra-time with goalkeeper McEnery the only player remaining in the home half.

Kenny delivered the free from the right into a crowded penalty area which was met by the head of McGuinness but the attempt failed to trouble the Athletic keeper as it cleared the bar instead.

The final whistle soon sounded with Mullingar safely into the next round after a result which could kick start their campaign while Willow must now again focus on the league title.

Willow Park: Shane McEnery, Sam Smith, Dylan Frawley, Micky Kelly, Ciaran McGuinness, Mark Nicholson, Cody Kelly, Neil Kenny, Nathan Williams, Ronan Bergin, Ryan Gaffey. Subs: Garry McHugh for Nicholson (59 mins); Gary Kenny and Christopher Malone for Smith and Gaffey (75).

Mullingar Athletic: Craig Sweeney, Tadgh Nolan, Jamie Loran, Dorian McDonald, Liam Brennan, Ben Treanor, Brian Kavanagh, Keith Hope, Jordan Scally, Ben Shaw, Rhys Keena. Subs: Efe Siode for Keena (48 mins); Neilas Vitkauskas for Hope (70); Juraj Zachej for Scally (87).

Referee: Ross Cole (Longford).