Mullingar 1sts edge Cill Dara

Mullingar’s 1st XV got their season back on track with a first Leinster League Division 1B win against Cill Dara at Shay Murtagh Park on Sunday.

Mullingar got off to a great start and had three points on the board in the second minute from a penalty. A Cill Dara lineout in their own 22 was won by Mullingar, and under pressure Cill Dara game away a penalty duly kicked by Ronan Wallace.

Although most of the play in the next 20 minutes was in the Cill Dara half, Mullingar failed to add to the scoreline as a number of chances went astray, due to taking the wrong option on a couple of occasions and players being isolated.

In the 25th minute Darach Geraghty broke through the Cill Dara defence to score Mullingar’s first try, which was converted by Ronan Wallace to put the home side 10-0 up. Ten minutes later, the men in scarlet and dove grey had their second try after another quick penalty in the Cill Dara 22. Paul Maxwell carried strongly and when he was tackled, Arthur Brabazon picked up and waltzed in to put the score at 15-0.

Mullingar were looking very strong at this point as virtually all of the play had been in the Cill Dara half of the pitch. However a bit of slackness allowed Cill Dara a kickable penalty to reduce the score to 15-3.

Mullingar, however, were to get the final score of the half just before the half time whistle with their third try. This time, some neat work by the backs put Daire Conway into a bit of space and he duly ran in a fine try. With the score now at 20-3 the home side were looking good for a win.

The second half started well for Cill Dara with a try in the second minute. Although it went unconverted, it seems to have put the home side on edge and gave confidence to the away side.

While in the first half Cill Dara were conceding needless penalties, now it was Mullingar’s turn. Whenever the hosts got into their half a penalty seemed to relieve the pressure on Cill Dara.

There were a few moments of skill from Mullingar, which always seemed to be followed by a simple error or perhaps just nerves, as Cill Dara kept attacking and found holes in the Mullingar defence.

A further converted try from Cill Dara brought the score to 20-15 and the home fans were growing nervous. Cill Dara were to score again in the 70th minute; this time the try was converted to put them ahead for the first time at 20-22.

A Mullingar attack in the Cill Dara half resulted in an intercept by the Kildare side, and as their player raced ahead with nobody in front of him, Sean Rock chased back and with the Cill Dara player over the try line, Rock managed to tackle him over the dead ball line and prevent an almost certain try.

A few minutes later Mullingar got a penalty about 10 metres inside the Cill Dara half, and this time opted to kick for points, and duly got back in front courtesy of Stuart Flynn. Cill Dara had another chance to go back into the lead but this time their penalty went wide of the posts. Flynn opted to drop kick a long ball, which Daire Conway chased hard and Mullingar were awarded with another penalty, which was successfully kicked by Flynn. With Mullingar now 26-22 ahead, the fans breathed a bit easier knowing now Cill Dara needed a try to win. With just a few minutes remaining, the home side held their nerve.

Next up, Mullingar are away to Clondalkin next Sunday with a 2.30pm kick off. As Clondalkin don’t have a team in the 2nds League, there is no fixture as yet for Mullingar’s 2nd team.

Mullingar 1st XV Ben Glennon, Darren Brady (capt.), Chris Fox, Luke Finnegan, Lemeki Vaipulu, Darach Geraghty, Paul Maxwell, Niall Hannon, Arthur Brabazon, Thomas Campbell, David Lynam, Ronan Wallace, Alan Brabazon, Daire Conway, Sean Rock. Subs: Johnny Moran, Edward Nally, Conor Glennon, Stuart Flynn, Anthony McGivney.

Minute’s silence

Before the start of Sunday’s game, there was a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Mullingar’s former player and honorary secretary, Michael (Mick) Dunne, a man who game a great number of years' service to the club. The club’s condolences go to his wife Marjorie and children, Fiona, Michael Jnr and Alison.

Leinster 2nds League Division 1B

On Saturday Cill Dara conceded the 2nds game to Mullingar. thus keeping Mullingar at the top of the 2nds league. The concession was a disappointment to the home side as they were looking forward to the match, being in good form of late.