Byrne"s strike comes too late to save Willow

Willow Park"s dream of progressing even further in the U-12 SFAI Cup finished last Saturday when a hugely impressive Letterkenny Rovers visited Athlone and emerged as thoroughly deserved winners. With home advantage, Willow would have fancied their chances of knocking out Anthony Gorman"s Letterkenny side, but Willow came up against a hugely efficient outfit who turned on the style and will be difficult to stop in this competition. A clearly well-prepared Letterkenny had put ten goals past their opposition in their last two outings while conceding just one goal. They had players like Noah Mailey, Oisin Shields, Sean Hume, Ryan Rainey (cousin of Maryland Gaelic football defender Philip Rainey), Jordan Toland and Kevin O"Donnell. Miley was very strong at the back, while Rainey made a number of fine runs down the right wing and caused numerous problems for the Willow Park defence. For the Athlone side, Cian Hayden played well in defence, Mike Aka created chances up front, while Chris Reid was a major loss after limping off injured. Midfielder Sam Okowuru held his own, too, while Jamie Fahey and Aidan Byrne worked hard in an effort to break down a stubborn Letterkenny defence. The Donegal boys put the home side under pressure from an early stage with Padraig Feery leading from the back and then finding Rainey, who in turn saw Toland in space, but Jack Quinn was back to make a vital interception. A minute later, Willow Park were awarded a free kick just outside the box and although Aidan Byrne chipped the ball over the wall, the Letterkenny "keeper got both hands to it. However, in the 13th minute the deadlock was broken when Chris Flanagan won a ball in the middle of the field and gave it to Jordan Toland, who saw Kevin O"Donnell free. O"Donnell made a brilliant run along the left wing before sending the high cross into the edge of the box where Ryan Rainey took it down brilliantly before driving past the Willow Park goalkeeper. Instead of holding back and defending the lead, the Donegal side continued to pile on the pressure with Kevin O"Donnell giving cause for concern. Cian Hayden defended well when Darragh Black was put through and although the visitors were causing enormous problems for this highly regarded Willow side, the homesters were doing everything in their power to stay in touch with Letterkenny. Willow had their moments, too, with Mike Aka impressing up front. Okowuru found the side netting and both Aidan Byrne and Damien Frayne met with strong resistance as they tried to pick holes in the Letterkenny defence. In the dying minutes of the first half, Damien Frayne went through the defence and when he drove low and hard for the bottom left hand corner, Jason Quinn pulled off a fine save to ensure Letterkenny led 1-0 at the interval. The Donegal side sprung into action early after the kick-off, with Ryan Rainey again making another of his trademark runs along the right wing, before sending in a dangerous cross that was meant for Darragh Blaney who arrived just a second too late. Willow took the ball upfield as Jamie Fahey tried to put Chris Reid through but he failed to see Damien Frayne free on his right and the visiting defence cleared. The home side began to ring the changes but in the 42nd minute Letterkenny found their second goal thanks to a well-taken Sean Hume free kick from thirty yards. With a minute of normal time remaining, Aidan Byrne sent a free kick from the left into the top of the Letterkenny net and Willow Park turned it into a cliffhanger. Willow had a semblance of hope and credit to them for sticking to the task until the dying moments of the game, but Letterkenny stood firm and went through to the last eight of the SFAI Cup. Willow Park: Jason McHugh; Cian Hayden; Kenny Dolan; Jack Quinn; Matthew Darling; Sam Okowuru; Damien Frayne; Chris Reid; Aidan Byrne; Jamie Fahey; Mike Aka. Subs: Eric Kearney and Darragh Joyce for Dolan and Quinn (35); Gio Russo for Reid (42); Brendan Campbell for Fahey (48). Letterkenny Rovers: Jason Quinn; Padraig Feery; Noah Mailey; Oisin Shields; Sean Hume; Christopher Flanagan; Ryan Rainey; Dale Gorman; Jordan Toland; Darragh Black; Kevin O"Donnell. Subs: Conor Blaney for Flanagan (50); James Cahill and Glen McNulty for Feery and Shields (55); Michael Miller for O"Donnell (57). Referee: PJ Allen.