Late goal means a share of spoils for gritty Mullingar side

Leinster Men’s League Div 3: Mullingar 1s 4-4 Corinthians 3s

(Goalscorers: Marc Watters x3, Graham Duggan x1)

On Saturday afternoon Mullingar 1s welcomed top of the table leader, Corinthians 3s. With Mullingar sitting currently third in the table pushing for promotion, it was vital that they got something out of the game.

The game started relatively at a calm pace. Corinthians were using the ball well, with their youngster upfront finding himself free on the ball a lot. Thankfully Mullingar dealt well with the danger, but it was worrying as to how this man was constantly getting free.

However, it was Mullingar who broke the deadlock first, Marc Watters with a reverse shot from the edge of ‘D’ saw the ball go into the bottom corner, the Corinthians goalkeeper did manage to get a foot on it but the power of the shot brought the ball into the goals. With nothing much else happening in the first quarter Mullingar saw themselves bring a goal advantage into the interval.

In the second quarter Mullingar were the better team. The home side was getting great use of the ball down either side of the wing. Mullingar’s constant attacking pressure down the wings resulted in giving them a 2-0 advantage. Watters saw his shot saved by the 'keeper but youngster Graham Duggan was quickest to react to knock in the follow up with the ball at head height.

Corinthians did pull one back when they got a penalty flick after a Mullingar defenders foot stopped the ball on the line. Just before the half-time brake, Mullingar restored their two goal advantage. Mullingar were awarded a short corner and from the resulting short Watters got his second goal of the game as he drag flicked the ball through the goalkeeper legs.

The third quarter was a dull affair, not much going on. Both teams evenly shared possession but not creating many chances. The only clear cut chance in the quarter came to the way of the visitors but Mullingar Keeper Tommy Crowley kept them at bay.

The final fourth quarter was a bit more action packed with three goals in total. Early in the quarter Mullingar got their two goal advantage and Marc Watters completed his hat-trick when he saw his reverse shot go in from a short corner. With five minutes to play Corinthians got a goal back from a short corner of their own. With not long left Mullingar had their backs to the walls but unfortunately Corinthians got the eighth goal of the game to level it just before final whistle.

Mullingar next outing is an away match to Bray 2s on Saturday February 10.

Mullingar 2’s v Pembroke Wanderers 6’s

Leinster League Division 5

Goal scorers: David Kingston x 2; Graham Duggan x 2; Ashley Wiley x 1

Player of the Match: Sean Glennon

Mullingar 2s were determined to put their defeat to Corinthians in last weeks cup game behind them and focus purely on getting a vital win to move them up from the bottom of the table. With a full and strong squad available again this week, even the umpire had to check we only had 16 players due to the number of players in the dugout.

Mullingar started with a zip in their step and started really well playing the ball with confidence and purpose and winning the ball in midfield and driving forward to attack and put pressure on Pembroke’s defence. Mullingar’s pressure resulted in winning their first short corner, up stepped the captain to try his luck with a drag flick which was low down the middle for the keeper to stop, but not get a good clearance which feel to kindly to Ashley Wiley to pick up and slot into the corner. Mullingar were 1-0 up.

Whilst Mullingar was playing well, Pembroke’s tricky captain was causing the full backs some trouble with his ‘I’ll knock it past you and run’ or ‘ramp the ball over your stick’ technique which he has some success with the previous game and in this one.

This was identified during the pre-game chat but Mullingar still allowed him time and space to do it. Their captain ran into Mullingar’s circle when centre back John Murphy stepped across to make a challenge and inadvertently took the player out, this resulted in the dreaded ‘penalty stroke’.

It was down Mullingar’s ‘keeper to try and keep out, despite Conor’s best efforts in psyching the young Pembroke player to put him off the Pembroke player stepped up and took the stroke with confidence and scored to make it 1–1.

This only seemed to spur Mullingar on and make Mullingar more determined to get their lead back and push on for a win, some great work from the midfield who were finding space in the middle and out wide.

David Kingston continued his fine scoring form with another well taken goal: David picked up the ball at the top of Pembroke’s Circle to take on a few players then take the ball pass an out rushing ‘keeper and calmly hit the ball into the corner of the goal to make it 2-1 and finish the first quarter on a positive note.

Q2: The quarter time talk was, continue the good work and keep putting pressure on their defence, mark them closely, don’t give them an inch and keep working hard, we have the subs so work hard for five minutes then have breather and get yourselves back on.

The midfield players were working extremely hard supporting both and defence; Mullingar’s defence were standing strong mopping anything that was coming through; sweeper Stephen Wiltshire was dealing with Pembroke’s captain who was their main threat going forward.

It became a good contest between the two captains, with Stephen managing to win the majority of tackles, on one occasion a clumsy coming together saw Pembroke’s captain receive a soft green card for a two-minute rest.

Mullingar took advantage of the extra player and wasn’t long before they scored another goal a loose ball in the Pembroke’s circle which deflected of the ‘keeper for Owen to tap in to Put Mullingar 3-1 up.

With their tails up Mullingar were seemed to be winning balls all over the pitch, Graham Duggan found himself in the oppositions circle and take a shot which was ‘apparently’ going past the post until Owen came in to ‘pinch’ or tap in at the back post. The quarter ended 4 – 1 to Mullingar.

In the third quarter Pembroke seemed to find some momentum, this coincided with Mullingar losing some focus and start giving the ball away cheaply and push higher and higher to attack Pembroke’s circle. However this was leaving big gaps between midfield and defence.

Mullingar got a lucky break Pembroke’s captain received a 10-minute yellow for some words to the umpire. The 3rd quarter ended pretty uneventful. During the quarter talk the message was simple, work hard for the last 17 mins, concede no goals, don’t give them lift by scoring any goals.

Q4: Whilst Pembroke were back to 11 players on the pitch, they were throwing players forward in an attempt to get back into the game, Mullingar’s defence were rising to the challenge and not letting anything through, any attempts on goal was being well handled by Pud.

Mullingar’s Midfield and forwards were doing wonderful work passing the ball out wide or winning shorts corners, Mullingar managed to win two short corners in quick succession an despite Stephen dragging flicking with precision and power the 'keeper had good reactions and seems to be able to raise a glove and keep them out.

Another attack which resulted in another short corner, the decision was made to change the routine to a switch to the right for David to strike on goals. The push out, stop and switch worked perfectly with David finding time to smash the ball across the goal into the far corner and finished the game off. A well-deserved result and great performance from the whole team, and well done to the Man of the Match winner Sean Glennon for his tireless work in the centre of midfield.

Thanks to umpires Marc Watters and Larry Halpin, who both marshalled the game very well to make it an enjoyable game.

Mullingar 2s next game is away to high flying Weston 2s on Saturday February 10.