Wasteful Willow dominate

(AET) (Waterford Bohs win 4-3 on pens) WILLOW Park exited the FAI Junior Cup in the most cruel fashion last Sunday. For almost the entire 110 minutes of hugely competitive fare, the Athlone side made light of Waterford Bohemians" tag as favourites to progress to the last 16 of the competition. Willow Park were able to stage the highly anticipated contest despite a deluge of rain over the previous couple of days. And for the most part of the game, it looked as though their efforts to ensure the contest went ahead would be rewarded in the shape of progression to the next round. The home side offered far more in terms of an attacking threat throughout the tie, but fell behind against the run of play ten minutes before the interval. When Aidan Hyland restored parity in the 65th minute, Willow were very much in the ascendancy. The current Combined Counties league leaders peppered the Waterford goal for large chunks of the remaining 25 minutes of normal time and continued their assault on the visitors goal in extra-time. Waterford suffered what appeared a massive blow when goalkeeper Geoff Kelly injured a shoulder early in extra-time and outfield player Leo Jacques was forced to don the number one jersey. Ironically, Jacques went on to save Gary McHugh"s penalty kick while the unlucky Aidan Hyland also smashed his spot kick against the crossbar, while Waterford proved faultless from twelve yards and converted all four of their kicks. With local rivals St Peter"s progressing in Mayo after a penalty shoot-out, it would have been a massive shot in the arm for Athlone"s junior scene to have two sides in the last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup. There"s no doubt Willow Park deserve to be there, too, but the cruelty of penalty kicks haunted them after they failed to capitalise on a deluge of good chances created during 110 minutes of hard-hitting and ultra competitive action. Willow made a bright start and passed the ball around well in the opening stages, with left back Alan Kelly marauding forward at every opportunity. It was a foul on Kelly by David Whittle which brought about the game"s first booking after just five minutes. The away side adapted a very physical approach and were lucky not to concede a penalty on nine minutes when Gary Keane took down Benny Magennis inside the Waterford penalty area. Alan Kelly soon joined Whittle in referee Ray Matthews" notebook and Robbie O"Keeffe of Waterford was also booked for a foul on Mark Nicholson. Waterford"s first sight of goal was in the 20th minute when Bobby Keohan was afforded too much space outside the box but his shot was comfortably gathered by Ian Bolger. Willow really put Bohs under pressure for a period around the half hour mark. Firstly, Brian Frawley teed up Aidan Hyland but his shot was wild and well off target. Aidan Hyland then chested the ball down for Magennis to shoot from 20 yards. His effort was decent and on target but Geoff Kelly dived to his left to save. Gary McHugh"s through ball then set up Mark McConnell but his first touch was disappointing and Waterford cleared their lines. The visitors then shocked Willow by taking the lead against the flow of the game. Defender Robert Shine was harshly deemed to have shoved Alan Quinlan in the back and Waterford were awarded a free kick. Gary Keane stepped up to fire an unstoppable drive past a helpless Ian Bolger and into the top corner of the net. Willow"s Gary McHugh received the game"s fourth yellow card before the break as Waterford held on until the interval. A buoyant Willow again came out well at the start of the second half. Alan Kelly"s curled free kick was only narrowly off target, while Gary McConnell"s cleverly dinked cross to the back post was also extremely close to finding the net. The lively Benny Magennis and Aidan Hyland were always a threat to Waterford but the visitors - using three centre backs - defended very stoutly. Willow were ambitious in their approach though, with manager Tony O"Sullivan throwing on another attacker (Colm Hyland) just after the hour mark. Hyland joined his brother Aidan on the field and they would both cause difficulties for Waterford during the rest of the game. On 63 minutes, the ball dropped kindly for the in-form Aidan Hyland outside the box but his powerfully struck effort rose over the crossbar. A terrific cross from the right wing by Colm Hyland picked out his brother at the back post but Aidan"s close range header again drifted over the bar. During Willow"s next attack, Aidan Hyland would make no mistake. The exciting attacker reacted brilliantly in a crowded penalty area to divert the ball into the roof of the net following a scramble in the Waterford area. Mark McConnell - now playing at right back - made a brave block inside his own penalty area as Waterford threatened briefly. But the final 20 minutes was all Willow Park, as Waterford used every trick in the book, including some blatant time wasting, to merely hang on. In fairness, you probably couldn"t blame them. They were facing a very impressive Willow side who can be proud of their efforts against one of the junior game"s most respected clubs. Andrew Denn was booked for fouling the hard working Gary McHugh and from the resulting free kick Aidan Hyland headed just wide from Robert Shine"s inch perfect delivery. Shine tested Geoff Kelly with another free kick after Matt Billingham was carded for taking down Mark Nicholson. Aidan Hyland then tried to pick out Colm Hyland after a free-flowing move by Willow. After more intricate play by Benny Magennis, Aidan"s low cross into the six-yard box was excellently grasped from Colm Hyland"s boot by the alert Geoff Kelly. The Waterford manager was sent to the dressing room as Willow"s pressure began to tell on the visitors. Aidan Hyland then set up Gary McHugh with seven minutes remaining but McHugh"s shot, destined for the roof of the net, was pushed away by Geoff Kelly. James Mullally and Waterford"s Gary Keane went into the referee"s book as challenges flew in on both sides. During extra-time, which was held up for a long period after Geoff Kelly sustained a shoulder injury, Benny Magennis saw a lobbed effort cleared off the line while substitute Martin McConnell almost forced the ball home after a scramble in the Waterford box. Outfield player Leo Jacques was forced between the sticks after Geoff Kelly"s injury but made a very decent save to push away Aidan Hyland"s close range effort. Waterford managed to battle their way through the remainder of the game and went on to convert all four of their penalties through Gary Keane, Bobby Keohan, Matt Billingham and Alan Quinlan. Leo Jacques managed to keep out Gary McHugh"s opening spot kick for Willow and although Robert Shine and Martin McConnell converted, Aidan Hyland was the unfortunate final penalty taker when his effort struck the crossbar. Waterford"s celebrations indicated they knew they had got out of jail. Willow still have lots to play for locally between now and the end of the season, beginning with their LFA Junior Cup clash against O"Devaney Dunard this coming weekend. WILLOW PARK: Ian Bolger; Mark Rigney; Alan Kelly; Robert Shine; James Mullally; Gary McHugh; Mark McConnell; Mark Nicholson; Benny Magennis; Brian Frawley; Aidan Hyland. Subs: Colm Hyland for Rigney (61 mins); Martin McConnell for Frawley (110). WATERFORD BOHEMIANS: Geoff Kelly; Liam Marr; Andrew Denn; David Whittle; Stephen Welsh; Matt Billingham; Bobby Keohan; Robbie O"Keeffe; Gary Keane; Alan Quinlan; Thomas Croke. Subs: Kevin Whittle for O"Keeffe (55 mins); Leo Jacques for Croke (77); John O"Brien for Kelly (113). REFEREE: Ray Matthews.