Advantage Mullingar in a thrilling title climax

Eamon A. Donoghue

The destination of the CCFL U19 League title will go to the final game after the top two shared the spoils in an exciting encounter in Cushla Park on Saturday.

The visitors, Mullingar Athletic, came into this game with a two-point lead over Monksland, with both having only one other fixture left in the campaign.

It meant a Mullingar Athletic victory would have sealed the league, but equally Monksland would have been in the driving seat with a victory.

As it transpired, a draw gives the advantage to Mullingar and Monksland will be regretting some missed opportunities to tilt the balance in their direction, most notably a missed penalty with 20 minutes remaining and the concession of an equaliser in the final 15 minutes.

The hosts needed to win this game and their final fixture also but their missed penalty in the 71st minute might have cost them the title. Monksland were 2-1 in the ascendancy when Thomas O’Neill was taken down in the box. O’Neill dusted himself down to take the spot kick. But his shot was saved by Mullingar’s keeper Mickey Curley.

The game was a slow burner, with little clear intent offered by either side for the first 15 minutes.

Monksland, in particular, were expected to come out rearing to go and go after the win from the off. The opposite occurred. Both sides were nervous sitting back knocking the ball about, playing cat and mouse with each other. The first persistent play of any urgency came in the 17th minute, Mullingar’s Daniel McConn let fly with his sweet left foot but the attempt was high and well over Darren Quinn’s goal. The bustling Ross Clinton then went close with a shot. The game then started to come to life. Doran McDonald and Clinton had further attempts but to no avail for Mullingar.

Monksland gradually grew into the game. They started to put the ball in behind the Mullingar defence and began to gain some periods of possession. In the 30th minute, John Shine cleared his lines with a good header and Darragh Moore added to the play with a deft flick to Thomas O’Neill and the winger finished with aplomb. Monksland had taken the lead.

But from the kick off, Ryan Bitu went on a run and finished past Quinn with a peach of a finish into the top corner. The advantage was back in Mullingar’s corner.

Both sides had attempts from outside the box but nothing that bothered either keeper. Then in the 40th minute, Monksland took back the incentive again. Charlie Kelly received the pass before finishing past Curley to give Monksland a half-time advantage.

Monksland, driven on with their lead, had the better start to the second half. The home side went close to adding to their total with shots from O’Neill and McCauley somehow staying out of Curley’s net.

In their best spell of the game, they forged the opportunity to extend their lead in the 71st minute. O’Neill was fouled inside the box and the referee signalled for a penalty. O’Neill took the penalty but Curley made the save.

Instead of being two goals in front, Monksland now started to struggle and began to tire.

Monksland’s passing became sloppy and laboured and Mullingar sensed it. The visitors took over the last quarter. They brought on Matthew Rooney and he caused Monksland concerns every time he had possession down the left flank. They set about getting the equaliser that would give them back the incentive and control of their destiny in the table.

Clinton was going close to getting on the scoresheet, he had a number of attempts whizzing by the posts. But in the 78th minute he swashbuckled his way past a couple Monksland’s defenders before unleashing a rocket of a shot past Quinn in the Monksland goal.

The draw was as good as a win for Mullingar and a win in their last game and they will be the league winners.

Monksland may regret their failure to punish their opponents when on top, leading 2-1. But it was their sloppiness in the final quarter that cost them the win. After being 2-1 in the ascendancy, their passing and workrate dropped off after and allowed Mullingar to get the equaliser. Indeed, Mullingar had the chances to win the game in that last quarter.

Monksland Utd: Darren Quinn, Ryan Moran, Dominik Kaminski, John Shine, Jack Gavin, Charlie Kelly, Oisin Tiernan, Oisin McCauley, Shane Gavin, Darragh Moore, Thomas O’Neill. Subs Eoin Galvin for Tiernan (70), Eoin Reid and David Carroll for Shine and Moran (78), Cormac Westman for Gavin (injured (82).

Mullingar Athletic: Mickey Curley, Ethan Bowman, Nedas Bielicas, Cian Molloy, Eoin Kilmurray, Bobbie Archbold, Ryan Bitu, Rian O’Farrell, Ross Clinton, Daniel McCann, Doran McDonald. Subs Neilas Uitauskas for Bowman (HT), Matthew Rooney for McDonald (70).

Referee - Martin Hatchett.