Under 12s on upward learning curve

Birr Town 2, Mullingar AFC 1Mullingar AFC travelled to the Birr grounds having to pick themselves up from consecutive crushing defeats. However they realised that if they could marry the defensive doggedness they showed against Tullamore and the cutting attacks they produced against Portlaoise, they would be in the running for a favourable result in any game.A key part of Mullingar’s game is passing and control of the ball under pressure. This quality was not evident in the first five minutes of the Birr game. Birr threw men forward and nearly capitalised but for some lucky defending from Mullingar. Phillip Martin needed to apply huge pressure to an incoming attacker at the back post to prevent a cross from being converted.However, once they settled down, Mullingar started to click into gear. Dominating possession, Jamie Rooney and Phillip Martin began to lend attacking threat from their full-back positions. Stephen Clarke was finding the feet of Lorcan Mahedy and Eoin Fallon in midfield and they made great use of the ball by releasing Mark Ronan and Alan Farrell.Eoin Fallon, Lorcan Mahedy, Naoise McKenna, Mark Ronan, Jamie Rooney and Alan Farrell all had shots from just outside the penalty area. Jamie Rooney was replaced by Gareth O’Connor.  The second half began as the first left off. This time Naoise McKenna was starting to break forward on the left. As the second half wore on though, there were some tired legs evident and the Mullingar passing game began to break down. Cathal Byrne and Eoin Donoghue were brought in to freshen things up.Within a few minutes of their introduction they combined on the left wing. Byrne released Donoghue after faking to go down the line only to squeeze a diagonal through ball across the centre of the penalty area. This fine pass left Donoghue with the ‘keeper to beat and defenders closing in on his shoulder. He had Mark Ronan open on the right but he chose a cheeky lob from all of 18 metres out. It nestled just under the crossbar for Mullingar to take the lead.  As with all teams that have just scored the natural tendency is to sit back and this is what Mullingar did. Over the course of the next ten minutes Mullingar had to take their turn at defending. The platform provided by the defensive trio of Jordan McCullagh, Paul Lynam and Barry Glennon in goals was proving very strong. Much of the pressure was brought upon them with poorly chosen clearances and weak passing from midfield. The invitation to attack was happily taken up by Birr. As this purple period for Birr wore on the inevitable seemed seconds away. It was not to come in open play though due to the dogged defending of Mullingar. A direct free-kick on the edge of the penalty area for a handball was the source - straight into the top corner.Shane Meehan was brought on to shore things up. A series of free-kicks were won by Birr as this phase of the game wore on and again the telling delivery came from a dead-ball which the Mullingar defense failed to clear. The ball was let bounce on the six yard line and was scrambled into the net by Birr. A surprise 2-1 lead was now theirs.Birr couldn’t believe their luck and sat right back into their own half to retain their lead. Mullingar pressed on with Joseph Newman coming on to relieve Jordan McCullagh of his defensive duties and command more of the ball further upfield. Alan Farrell came close with a free-kick skinning the outside of the post and McCullagh tried a cheeky near-post effort that skipped wide with the ‘keeper stranded. Just when the match seemed beyond Mullingar, a breakwas on.Cathal Byrne received a through-ball from a clever midfield pass and raced into the penalty area. Just as he shaped to shoot he was upended but not before he toe-poked a square ball across the six-yard box. Everyone looked to the referee - he raised both arms to signal advantage! Mark Ronan burst onto the loose pass and slammed his shot against the base of the post where it rebounded away from the Mullingar attackers and was kicked dead by Birr. That was that - the last chance went a begging and Mullingar players slumped in defeat. The Mullingar boys walked off the pitch to a rousing applause from both sets of supporters and the gracious Birr Town manager spoke of how his team “...got out of jail!” Should Mullingar continue on this upward learning curve and maintain the courage to play football in this fashion, they can only expect positive things later in the season. Kick Start 1 CourseA Kick Start 1 course will be held on Saturday, November 27 in the clubhouse. Bookings are now being taken - please contact Leo for details on 086-8611301.5-a-side all weather hoursThe club are now taking and confirming bookings for their 5-a-side all weather for the winter. Please contact Oliver Holmes at the club on 044-9345646 any evening after 6pm.Saturday morning coachingCoaching for children born in 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 has recommenced. The fee for the year is 100 euro per child, 150 euro in total if there are two members of the same family registered with the club and 180 in total if three members of the same family are registered with the club. This year we offer an installment payment method /direct debit option. For those who could not attend the registration or first session on Saturday last please register your child on Saturday morning prior to the session starting.ResultsCCFL Senior Division - O’Neills LFA Cup Round 3: Mullingar Athletic 2, Freebooters 1.CCFL Division 1: St. Peter’s 2, Mullingar Athletic 1.DDSLUnder 14 SFAI Round 2: Dunboyne FC 1, Mullingar Athletic 3.Under 17 Premier: Mullingar Athletic 4, St. Joseph’s Boys 2.NDSLUnder 14: Mullingar Athletic 2, Drogheda Boys 1.ADSLUnder 11 7-a-side: St. Coman’s 3, Mullingar Athletic 0.Under 16: St. Joseph’s 3, Mullingar Athletic 1.Midland LeagueUnder 11 Major: Emo 0, Mullingar Athletic A 7.Under 11 East: Mullingar Athletic B 1, St. Aengus 1.Under 15 Major: Mullingar Athletic A 1, Birr 1; Killavilla 2, Mullingar Athletic B 0.Under 16: Clara 4, Mullingar Athletic 0.Under 12 Girls: Mullingar Athletic 13, Emo 0.Under 14 Girls: Killavilla 5, Mullingar Athletic 4.FixturesSaturday, October 30CCFL Senior Division: Mullingar Athletic v. Mountmellick, 7pm,Youths Division 1: Mullingar Athletic v. Temple Villa, 2.30pm - to be confirmedDDSLSaturday, October 30Under 12A: Cambridge Boys v. Mullingar Athletic, 10.30am.Under 13A: Castleknock Celtic v. Mullingar Athletic, 1pm.Under 14A: Mullingar Athletic v. St. John Bosco, 2.15pm.Sunday, October 31Under 17 Premier: Mullingar Athletic v. Belvedere Boys, 11am.NDSLSunday, October 31Under 13A: Glebe North v. Mullingar Athletic, 11am.Under 14A: Swords Manor v. Mullingar Athletic, 11.15am.ADSLSaturday, October 30Under 10: St. Francis Eagles v. Mullingar Athletic Tigers, 11.30am.Under 10: Mullingar Athletic Lions v. St. Joseph’s Lions, 11am.Under 10: Connaught Celtic v. Mullingar Athletic Hoops, 1.30pm.Under 10: Temple Villa v. Mullingar Athletic Cubs, 1.30pm.Under 16: Mullingar Athletic v. Hodson Bay, 12o’clock.Midland LeagueSaturday, October 30Under 11 Major: Mullingar Athletic v. Tullamore Utd, 10am.Under 11 East: Portlaoise v. Mullingar Athletic B, 11.15am.Under 12 Major: St. Aengus v. Mullingar Athletic A, 11.15am.Under 15: Mullingar Athletic B v. T & S Utd, 12.30pm.Under 16: Tullamore Utd v. Mullingar Athletic, 12.15pm.Under 12 Girls: Mullingar Athletic v. Bealnamulla, 10am.Under 16 Girls: Mullingar Athletic v. Bealnamulla, 11.15am.