Firsts bow out following absorbing Towns Cup tie

New Ross 36Mullingar 9The scoreline did no justice. The efforts of a side missing frontline backs missing through injury, was honourable, and despite throwing away two tries Mullingar were still in the neighbourhood with 11 minutes remaining when Farlo was held up over the line. Had he managed to roll the other way it was a six point game with the guts of a quarter of an hour to go and the Cup run could have continued one further, but thus cup games go.New Ross are a team from a division up. They were more than useful when the acres were offered them, and when they could do most damage, they did it.Two 70m intercept tries will break most hearts and thus it was, regardless of their late run-ins.New Ross chose to play up the hill and into the wind in the first half on a splendid spring day, as Mullingar took to their furthest available away game in Leinster.Young Colin McCormack got an early welcome to the grizzled union but consolidated well in that hairy place to inveigle a three minute penalty when New Ross collapsed a scrum. From distance, Stuart Flynn was short.A minute later, after the forwards managed a few solid platforms, the Mullingar backs tried their first move, bringing the blindside wing into the threequarters. A flat, full pace line and a lazy floater saw a New Ross centre intercept to stroll the remaining distance unchallenged.Mulllingar sucked it up and went down field. Flynn put a penalty to the corner and from the ensuing line-out Niall Smyth crashed on, only to be held up metres short. However, the referee deemed the defending line was too high, and Flynn opened his account on seven minutes.A lucky Mullingar knock-on on 10 minutes saw the home side pinged back after stealing another interception, but just three minutes later Flynn shortened the deficit to the minimum after further New Ross indiscipline in the scrum.At this stage, Mullingar were well in the game, with Butler, both Murphys and Kerroum looking good on the front foot.Karma for the intercept seem to be repaid on 18 and 24 minutes when the New Ross kicker put a pair of penalties either side of the postsYet Mullingar were still able to make territory, and Ray Murphy went close from the back of a five metre scrum. With the half almost up, young winger Robert Allen got creamed in a cynical tackle and Stuart Flynn went down the line. From this line-out, the pack fed Flynn, and he gave Mullingar a drop goal lead with the last kick of the first period.That was to be that, though. With the team already missing Deering, Aonghus Smyth, Robbie Rylands and Craig Swanson, the next wheel off the Mullingar wagon happened at half time when outhalf Alan Kelly's ankle refused to let him continue. The enforced reshuffle saw Mark Potter, a back row forward, come on to the wing, Under 20 Simpkin come into the centre and 19-year old Stuart Flynn assume the playmaking responsibilities at 10.Early in the second half a quickly taken New Ross penalty saw Mullingar not back the requisite 10, and the resultant from inside the 22 saw the home side regain the lead 10-9.Three minutes later when a dangerous looking Mullingar attacking line was gambled on again by that New Ross centre just outside his 22, and he nicked what we subsequently discovered was his seventh intercept try of the season.Tribute to a stalwartAfter a decade and a half playing senior rugby for Mullingar, the imperious Vinny Hewitt made it to the 17th minute of the second half, after he left everything he had out there.It was probably somewhat of a blessed relief, having to put in just the one hour of relentless physicality. Though I hope he recants, it is believed the 34 year old cast his boots to the darkness from the bus on the way home. This colossus of Mullingar rugby, who has been playing so long owes nobody anything, though the fields of Leinster may breathe a quiet sigh at the passing of his wreaking thunder. Declan Murphy replaced him but could do little as New Ross began to turn the screw.Ray Murphy had to make a big tackle in his own 22 when New Ross had an overlap, and a charged down Flynn clearance was very fortunate to find touch. Then, on 24 minutes, Paddy Simpkin tidied up over his own line to concede a five metre scrum, from the back of which their No. 8 powered over for 22-9.There was one last effort in Mullingar and on 30 minutes they battled diligently to the New Ross 22. Skipper and Dubai-bound Niall Smyth went close again, but was stopped two metres out. From the ensuing pressure the primordial Farlo went one further and crossed the line but was held up by some solid defence. A try would have seen a six point cup match with 10 minutes to go.The less pressured New Ross back line began to dance and ran in a brace in the last four minutes to put a less than fair gloss on what was an absorbing, if disappointing end to the Towns Cup run.Mullingar must now re-group quickly, as they travel again to Wexford on Friday evening to play a Gorey side who must win to stay in Division 3. Mullingar though not mathematically safe, have Longford at home and Roscrea away in their remaining matches to cement security.Team: Colin McCormack, Robbie Collintine, Adriel Farrell, Vinny Hewitt, Ollie Kirby, Adam, Kerroum, Pete Gibson, Ray Murphy, David Butler, Alan Kelly, Robert Allen, Stuart Flynn, Niall Smyth, Patrick Simpkin, Brian Murphy. Subs used: John Hughes, Mark Potter, Declan Murphy.Scorers: Stuart Flynn: Penalties (2), DG (1)