Keegan and Siode the stars as Athletic march into third round
Combined Counties Cup round two: Mullingar Athletic 6, Willow Park ‘B’ 0
Johnny Keegan and Efe Siode were the stars of the show for Mullingar Athletic as they braved the Friday evening chill to ease past Willow Park’s second string at Gainstown.
Keegan finished the game with four goals, and another two from Siode left the visitors from Athlone reeling.
Willow, with only 11 players available to them from the 14 listed, played most of the game with ten after an injury, and were effortlessly turned over by Athletic’s capable attack. Indeed, such was the verve with which Athletic played in the second half, they could have easily finished with double figures.
Brian Kavanagh also impressed for the hosts, and his crosses led to Athletic’s two opening goals, both of them finished by Keegan. Siode then scored on the rebound for Athletic to make it 3-0 at half-time.
From there, Athletic turned on the style. The fourth goal arrived when Tristan Graham crossed for Keegan to seal his hat-trick, before Siode netted the fifth with a superb finish to the far corner of the Willow net.
As full-time approached, Ryan McCormack was the provider, with some great work by the Athletic winger culminating in Athletic’s sixth goal, and Keegan’s fourth.
Willow had a couple of half chances via Brian Fogarty and Joe Awala, but some disciplined defending and impressive goalkeeping from Eoin Gorman ensured a clean sheet for Athletic, as they progress to the next round.
Elsewhere, Mullingar Town’s LFA Junior Cup clash with Rivervalley Rangers and Mullingar Celtic’s Combined Cup second round tie against Melville FC, due to be played on Sunday, were both called off due to torrential rain at the weekend.
Mullingar Athletic: Eoin Gorman, Oisín Tyrrell, Jamie Walsh, Liam Brennan, Tristan Graham, Jamie Archibold, Ryan McCormack, Brian Kavanagh, Johnny Keegan, Efe Siode, Ryan Norris. Subs: Dillon Matthews, Seanie Mahon, Dano Whelan.
Willow Park ‘B’ squad (as listed): Conor Devaney, Paul Allen, Gary McHugh, Declan Fallon, Shay Byrne, Brian McCormack, James Fortune, Andy O’Sullivan, Brian Fogarty, Joe Awala, Glen Byrne, Colm Noonan, Mick Kelly, Cathal Joyce.
Ref: Ray Conlon.