Hyland strike gives Willow victory over Athletic in windswept cup clash

A very strong and swirling wind was the real winner in Gainstown last Saturday night as Willow Park advanced to the next round of the prestigious FAI Junior Cup at the expense of a below-par Mullingar Athletic side. While the Mullingar men bowed out with a whimper, a highly-vaunted Willow Park side undoubtedly deserved their victory but, having failed to capitalise on a very preventable goal from Aidan Hyland as early as the sixth minute, the Athlone men will be far from pleased with their overall display. Overall, the few hardy souls who braved the elements got very little to shout about as the football was poor throughout and home fans witnessed one of the gold and greens' most disappointing performances in quite some time. Other than goalkeeper Colm Baker (the goal apart), central defender David Masterson, left back Kevin Campbell and midfielder Enda Matthew (in spots), a somewhat understrength home side failed to show their undoubted ability. The losers had the backing of the wind in the first moiety. It was blowing almost directly into the clubhouse goal area, but it was obvious as early as Niall Flynn's ambitious effort in the opening five seconds that judging the wind would be very difficult. Indeed, had Enda Matthews struck a free kick from the halfway line with more power, it could easily have caused the visitors' goalkeeper Ian Bolger more trouble than it actually did. Willow Park got what proved to be the all-important goal in the sixth minute. An unnecessary foul (one of many all over the pitch throughout the game) by Athletic resulted in Colm Fortune whipping in a free kick from the right of the box and Aidan Hyland (who had been the man fouled) guided the ball home from close range, as the losers' defence dithered somewhat. A physically bigger Willow Park side were coping better with the conditions, but the home netminder Colm Baker generally did well with routine shots and crosses which came his way. Stephen Fadian's 11th-minute corner failed to pick out a home player. An indication of the power of the wind came after a quarter of an hour when Colm Fortune's free kick from outside the penalty area flew out for a throw-in to Athletic. Soon afterwards, Stephen Fadian wasted another corner, his delivery hitting the side netting. In the 20th minute, Ian Bolger advanced well to thwart the menacing Michael Fadian, while his opposite number, Colm Baker produced a brave point-blank save to keep out Aidan Hyland's effort. On the half-hour mark, a dubious 25-metre free to the Mullingar men was not capitalised on, Enda Matthews' effort never looking like it would hit the target. Shakiness in the home defence was evident in the 34th minute, but nothing came from it from the visitors' viewpoint. With five minutes of normal time remaining, another Athletic corner came to nothing A fine attempt from Colm Hyland after his crossfield run was held by Colm Baker. In injury-time, another Enda Matthews free kick was cleared by the Athlone men, who went in for a richly-deserved half-time 'cuppa' ahead by a goal to nil. The winners were also far from guilt-free with their placed balls, as evidenced by a very poor Robbie Shine free in the early exchanges of the second half. Either side of a wasted free from Enda Matthews, his colleague Niall Flynn picked up a brace of rapid-fire yellow cards, leaving the home team reduced to ten men with only eight minutes gone in the second moiety. Athletic's task was now a monumental one but, to their credit, the ten men plugged away. A great run in the 17th minute by Michael Fadian ultimately came to nothing. Gerry 'Hanger' Hynes' charges were very fortunate not to concede a second goal within seconds of Brian Frawley's introduction in the 20th minute, the number 13 spurning an open goal following Aidan Hyland's lay-off. With exactly 25 minutes on the clock, a snapshot from Colm Fortune skimmed the Athletic goalpost. In truth, the winners looked far more likely to get another goal than the Mullingar men did to equalise. Another Willow Park goal almost came in the 30th minute, Aidan Hyland's header from Robbie Shine's pinpoint cross just failing to hit the target. At the other end, a snapshot from Michael Fadian went wide. Willow Park substitute, Mark McConnell was almost gifted a goal in the 36th minute with the Athletic defence in a quandary. Colm Baker did well to hold Robbie Shine's long-range shot, before David Masterson produced a great challenge on Mark McConnell as he threatened to break through. Colm Baker's vigilance kept the deficit down to a single goal as the seconds ticked away, before referee Paul Murphy (who officiated fairly throughout) brought an end to an eminently forgettable encounter. However, the poor fare won't bother Willow Park who now enter the draw for the third round of one of Europe's most-populated cup competitions. Mullingar Athletic: Colm Baker, Tony Dunne, Kevin Campbell, Mark Syron, David Masterson, Enda Matthews, Claudio Nardone, Stephen Markey, Niall Flynn, Michael Fadian, Stephen Fadian. Subs: Darragh Kiernan (for Nardone, half-time), Kevin Dunleavy (for S. Fadian, 65 mins). Willow Park: Ian Bolger, Robbie Shine, Peter Sherlock, Ronan Frawley, Earl Gaylard, Colm Fortune, Gary McHugh, Mark Nicholson, Colm Hyland, Benny McGuinness, Aidan Hyland. Subs: Brian Frawley (for McGuinness, 65 mins), Mark McConnell (for McHugh, inj, 73 mins), Michael Harney (for C.Hyland, 85 mins). Referee: Paul Murphy (Athlone).