Combined Counties Football league Roundup Week 22
The weather proved to be the winner this week, with only 16 of the 53 scheduled games taking place over the weekend. However the big game went ahead on Friday night in Lecarrow where Willow Park enjoyed a very good victory over Maynooth Town to send them into the latter stages of the LFA Junior Cup, a competition they won a few seasons back. Aidan Hyland fired in a treble fro the Athlone men while Benny McGuinness and Seanie Brennan chipped in with a goal apiece to leave the issue in no doubt.
There was also some domestic cup action on Sunday in the Combined Counties Cup where a number of games survived the bad weather. Senior Division sides Clara Town, Killavilla United and Monksland United are all safely through to the last 16 of the competition, but Gallen United are out after they fell to a heavy defeat away to Dynamoe Town. Mountmellick United are also out after they succumbed to C.K United on penalty kicks following a two all draw in a brilliant game of football. S Weir was the star turn for the victors with two excellent goals from perfectly struck free kicks.
Perhaps the shock of the day however came in Portarlington where Division 1 side Gracefield Athletic edged out Premier Division highfliers Abbeyleix Athletic. A solitary strike from Robbie Knight put last years Division 2 champions into the last 16.
In underage action only one game survived the weather and it produced a very significant result when Gallen United travelled to Newbridge Town and emerged with a stunning 5-3 victory over the league leaders. Another hat-trick from the excellent Jamie Evans was not enough on this occasion to safe his side as Newbridge who had previously taken out Gallen 7-1 this season, crashed to their first defeat of the season
Last but certainly not least congratulations to Mullingar Athletic womens team who wrapped up the Womens League title on Sunday evening following a 4-2 victory over Tullamore Town. A hat-trick from the excellent captain Leona Archibald including a fabulous free kick and another goal from Karen Hegarty secured the title for the Mullingar girls who have been excellent all season and will now be attempting to make it a double with the Cup still to come. Tullamore replied with goals from Ali Lenihan and Richelle O’Neill.
