Birr Town take on Monksland in Counties Cup final

BIRR Town will this weekend bid to win the top knockout trophy in local soccer, the CCFL Counties Cup.

Birr will play another CCFL Senior Division side, Athlone team Monksland United, in the decider at Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on Saturday, June 3 (kick-off 6.30pm).

Representatives of both finalists got a chance to see the coveted Counties Cup trophy at a preview event organised by the league in Tullamore.

Birr clinched their place in the final when Johnny Corboy scored an injury time free-kick to beat Ballinahown 2-1 in the semi-final in DPD Park, Athlone.

Earlier, Hubert Zakrzewski had put Birr 1-0 up and they remained ahead at the half-time before the Ballinahown equaliser.

Birr had defeated Mullingar Town in the quarter-final.

Monksland were taken all the way to a penalty shoot-out by Mullingar Athletic in the other semi-final at Stanley O'Hara Park, Clara.

The match was level 2-2 after extra time with Dylan Jinks and Kevin Dunne on the mark for Land.

Monksland, who are managed by former Willow Park and Tullamore Town team boss Tony O'Sullivan, knocked out Athlone rivals St Peter's in the last eight.

The Counties Cup final brings the curtain down on a CCFL season where Clara Town won the double, lifting the Senior Division title and the Cotter Cup, repeating a feat the club achieved a year ago.