Defences dominate in Gainstown

Mullingar Athletic 0 Monksland United 0

Neither Mullingar Athletic or Monksland United could find a goal in blustery conditions in Gainstown last Friday night as both sides settled for a share of the spoils in their CCFL Senior Division clash, writes Jason Keelan.

‘The Land’ arrived to Mullingar with two wins from two at the start of the season and looked to make a bright start when John Shine hit the first shot from the edge of the box. Athletic soon got to grips with the game as both sides seemed content to allow each other carry the ball out of defence into a rather congested middle-third.

Efe Siode and Dylan Jinks were the main threats for each side – Siode playing a neat one-two with Ryan McCormack before keeper Callum O’Brien did well to stop him advancing to the Monksland goal.

The home side had the best opportunity of the opening quarter when McCormack’s weighted through ball found the dynamic Tadhg Nolan who shot just wide of the far post. Athletic were much quicker and crisper with their passing early on but the threat posed by Monksland’s Reece Moran was growing for the away team.

McCormack went on another lung-bursting run through the middle before laying off to Shane Boyce. His low cross was met by Siode who drilled wide at the near post. At the other end, Ryan O’Connor’s cross caught in the swirling wind allowing Matt Scally to take it down and tee-up Shine outside the area, but his effort deflected wide.

Both sides still lacked the killer final pass (the wind not helping matters either). On the half hour, Eoin Gorman did well to palm away a powerful cross before it reached the head of Jinks.

Dillon Matthews then went on a solo run from defence, but his side squandered the chance to cross with four in the box. The final minutes of the half saw chances for both sides.

Firstly, O’Connor’s free kick eventually landed on the head of Stephen Francis 12 yards out but his effort went just over. Down the other end, McCormack saw his shot well-saved by O’Brien.

The early minutes after the restart saw very little in the way of definitive chances – Gorman sliding low to deny Jinks before Boyce saw his effort tipped over by O’Brien in the opposite goals.

Then on 57 minutes, Monksland’s David O’Brien came the closest anyone came to hitting the net. Some neat build-up eventually ended with O’Brien getting room to strike 25 yards out. His driving effort smashing back off the crossbar before the rebound was sent wide.

With their tails up, ‘The Land’ pushed on and Keith O’Reilly’s superbly angled pass down the channel gave Jinks a half-chance which was deflected wide for a corner.

David O’Brien missed a great chance when he arrived late but could only direct his bullet header over.

The final ten minutes saw conditions worsen as heavy rain added to the difficulties. Both sides continued to keep firm defensively.

The final effort of note from substitute Nathan McCullagh was eventually held onto at the second attempt by O’Brien. A draw a fair result with neither side doing enough to deserve the full tally.

Mullingar Athletic: Eoin Gorman; Oisín Tyrrell, Tadhg Nolan, Liam Brennan, Dillon Matthews, Aaron McLoughlin, Shane Boyce, Jamie Archibold, Efe Siode, Ryan McCormack, Seanie Mahon. Subs used: Nathan McCullagh for Boyce (inj., 81).

Monksland United: Callum O’Brien; David O’Brien, Keith O’Reilly, Michael Harrington, Brian Francis, John Shine, Stephen Francis, Reece Moran, Dylan Jinks, Matt Scally, Ryan O’Connor. Sub used: Shane O’Neill for S Francis (inj., 19).

Ref: Ray Conlon.