Willow youths ease into next round

WILLOW PARK secured a place in the second round of the Combined Counties Football League Youths Cup after what ultimately transpired to be a fairly comfortable victory over Ballymahon last Saturday afternoon. Second-half goals from Peter Coleman, Philly Lennon and Bryan McCormack were enough to see Willow Park run out as comfortable victors over nearby Midland rivals Ballymahon. The first half was largely uneventful with the game rarely slipping out of second gear, but Willow were handed a great advantage when the visitors saw their striker Mark Mulvey sent off for an incident involving Willow defender Owen Connaughton. The second half was a tale of Willow just letting time do its job, with the opposition"s ten-man outfit tiring towards the end, and Willow made their numerical advantage count. Willow went into this one with more than a couple of selection headaches. With a number of players unavailable due to work commitments, the home team were down to near enough the bare bones, and with both of the club"s goalkeeper"s away, Combined Counties central defender Brian Mulvihill used some of his Gaelic football skills by standing between the posts, and the former St Francis stalwart gave a good account of himself throughout. Striker Sean Brennan, who has also played senior football for Willow Park this season, was the first to get a sight at goal for Willow, but his free-kick inside the opening two minutes never really troubled the Ballymahon netminder. Mulvihill"s first call of duty came on four minutes when Mark Mulvey was played in on goal, but Mulvihill raced off his line and smothered the ball before he could get a shot away. That was to be Mulvey"s last action as he saw red on 21 minutes. Peter Coleman then had a chance with the first half coming to a close, but after good work from Brennan and wide man Gary Mullery, the striker failed to test Higgins in the goal. Willow made one change at half-time with the introduction of Philly Lennon in place of Jay Conlon, and it wasn"t long before Lennon got himself involved in the thick of the action. He was involved in the build-up to a chance that saw Brennan have a shot at goal, but the Willow man"s effort curled just wide of the "keeper"s right hand post. Mattie Shine was then brought on with just under an hour on the clock and his side wasted little time going in front after his introduction. Brennan received possession on the edge of the Ballymahon penalty area and his reverse ball sent Peter Coleman through on goal. Coleman took his time to compose himself before lifting the ball over the advancing "keeper to open the scoring. Bryan McCormack was then brought on to replace the injured Donal Beirne, and Willow were looking like an outfit that could trouble the opposing back four. Some fluid football in the last third ensued with Biffa Marshment, Brennan and Mark Egan all having efforts at goal. Willow then had a great chance to double the advantage after the move of the match. McCormack linked up with Shine and the former"s cross just missed out Lennon at the back post, with the right winger coming within inches of making a telling connection. The home team did, however, double their advantage soon after with a well-taken goal. Brennan again had a big say in the goal, as it was his fine pass that sent Lennon away, and he took the chance very well, firing the ball low across the "keeper and into the bottom corner. Marshment again saw an effort go wide before Lennon almost scored with a carbon copy of the second goal, only for Higgins to deny him with a good stop. On the stroke of full-time, Willow well and truly wrapped things up when Lennon turned provider, setting up McCormack, who finished just inside the post to leave the final scoreline at 3-0. Willow Park: Brian Mulvihill; Mark Egan; Gary Hogan; Owen Connaughton; Andy McNamara; Jay Conlon; Donal Beirne; Biffa Marshment; Gary Mullery; Sean Brennan; Peter Coleman. Subs: Philly Lennon for Conlon (40 mins); Mattie Shine for Beirne (59); Bryan McCormack for Coleman (66); David Broughan for Mullery (70). Ballymahon: Gary Higgins; Kyle Fitzmaurice; Keith McLoughley; Kevin Duane; Barry Stewart; Charlie Byrne; William Flanagan; Rob Harrison; Jamie Noonan; Mark Mulvey; Alan Kenny. Referee: Paul Tone.