Willow face testing trip

CURRENT Combined Counties League leaders and champions Willow Park face a somewhat daunting task this weekend when they travel to Dublin on Sunday to face crack outfit Ballymun Utd in the quarter-finals of the LFA Junior Cup at the AUL Complex (kick-off: 2pm). Ballymun Utd are currently fancied to win both the LFA Junior Cup and FAI Junior Cup, after progressing to the last four of the latter competition by beating Waterford Bohs 3-1 away last weekend. Waterford Bohs, of course, knocked Willow Park out of the FAI Junior Cup earlier in the year after a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Athlone. Ballymun, who boast some highly rated attacking players such as David Kane, Barry Kavanagh and Roge Keeley, are presently sixth in the AUL Premier Division. But their progress in three major cup competitions - they are also in the quarter-finals of the Nivea Cup in Dublin - means they have six games in hand on league leaders Killester Utd. Willow Park"s exit from the FAI Junior Cup was a bitter blow to their season and, in truth, they pulled the shortest straw by drawing Ballymun Utd in the last eight of the LFA Junior Cup. However, Willow Park manager Tony O"Sullivan says his team will travel to Dublin without fear. 'Ballymun are obviously a very good side and are particularly dangerous going forward. They"re unbeaten in their last 21 matches, so that shows we"re dealing with a very good team. They have lots of goals in their team,' O"Sullivan said. O"Sullivan watched his Willow side warm-up for the trip to Ballymun with a somewhat disappointing scoreless draw with Clara Town in the CCFL Senior Division. Left back Alan Kelly and the McConnells, Mark and Martin, missed last weekend"s game against Clara but are expected to return to the side for Sunday"s big game. Michael Harney, who missed several months of the season due to work commitments, has also been featuring more frequently for Willow in recent weeks and will be expected to make some sort of impact against Ballymun. Otherwise, Willow will hope goalkeeper Ian Bolger maintains his good form this season and also gets adequate protection from a back four that"s likely to include Earl Gaylard, Alan Kelly and Robert Shine. It"s also vital that Willow"s midfield maintains the standards set this season, where Gary McHugh and Mark Nicholson have been top performers, and Aidan Hyland offers a major goal threat. Others who could have a real impact for Willow going forward are Colm Hyland and Benny Magennis. O"Sullivan said: 'It"s our first time to reach this stage of the competition, so there"s very little pressure on the lads. But we"re not going there with fear. Brian Frawley is probably our only injury concern but we expect him to shrug off a groin problem. Our result against Clara wasn"t great, our performance was a bit lacklustre, and we have to start taking our chances. The lads have the hunger to do well but you can be sure Ballymun won"t give up goalscoring chances, so we need to take our chances. I think our players are good enough to give any side a good proper game and we look forward to the challenge Ballymun present. It"s going to be tough but you"ve got to go to these places and do everything possible to get a good result.'