Mullingar claim deserved victory over battling Bray

Bray 2s 1-2 Mullingar 1s

Leinster Men’s League Div 3

(Goalscorers: Marc Watters x1, Robert Delaney x1)

Player of the Match: Tommy Crowley

Mullingar men’s first squad travelled to Greystones for a 14:30 push back against Bray on Saturday. With Mullingar missing five players that would be in and around the starting team, they had to rely on some of the 2s players to come and fill in their shoes.

Mullingar started poorly, like last weekend in the first quarter they were very slow and weren’t winning the 50/50 balls. Bray were passing the ball around the pitch with ease but however they were miss placing one or two passes. Mullingar players coped on to this and made sure to put some pressure on the ball taker. This played off as Holger Marl won the ball high up the field. Marl hit a reverse high pass into the ‘D’ to Marc Watters. With the ball high above Watters head he jumped and tapped it in past the goalie. Unfortunately though for Watters and Mullingar, the Bray umpire deemed the ball to be dangerously hit in and gave a free out.

The second quarter was a bit better on Mullingar’s behalf but Bray was still on top marginally. They were unlucky to not take the lead early on in the quarter, but Mullingar keeper Tommy Crowley was making some fine saves. Half way through the second quarter Mullingar’s left back Craig Sweeney was forced off for a head injury. Thankfully he wasn’t off for long but Bray did manage to get the first goal of the game while he was off the pitch. It was a well-taken goal by the Bray midfielder.

In the second half/third quarter, Mullingar started to get some great joy on the left wing with Marc Watters and Holger Marl causing serious danger to Brays back line. When Mullingar were under pressure from the Bray attackers, the Mullingar defence of Stephen Wiltshire, Aidan Hopkins, Cameron Wiltshire and Craig Sweeney were doing excellent with clearing ball after ball. Mullingar got their well deserved goal midway through the third quarter. After Mullingar won possession in the middle of the park, they got Bray on the counter attack. Marl got the ball off his brother Sören Lavine, where he smashed the ball into the ‘D’ to Watters who got the slightest of touches to get it past the Bray ‘keeper for the second time. Thankfully this one stood. Watters was unlucky not to give Mullingar the lead soon after when his shot hit the post and went wide.

In the final quarter Mullingar dug deep. Bray were getting chance after chance but Tommy Crowley was having the game of his life. At one stage he even got applause from everyone on the pitch after he made an unbelievable diving save. Definitely save of the season so far for Mullingar. The great saves gave all the Mullingar players a push to keep going even when bodies started to fatigue and muscles started to cramp. Their determination paid off as with seven minutes left on the clock, Robert Delaney got Mullingar a goal to give them a lead for the first time. It was great build-up play by Mullingar and it was left on a plate for Delaney. With Bray now behind in the game for the first time, they really pushed forward but Mullingarcope admirably with the pressure. The Mullingar midfielders Adrian Quinn, Sören Lavine, Owen Wiltshire and Sean Glennon did everything they could to help the Mullingar defence. Mullingar kept Bray out and managed to get the well deserved 2-1 win.

Mullingar are next in action when they play Naas on Saturday February 24. The game will be played in the Naas Sports Centre at 15:30.

The Mullingar squad that defeated Bray 2s was: Aidan Hopkins, Craig Sweeney, Grame Hauge, Sören Lavine, Owen Wiltshire, Marc Watters (captain), Stephen Wiltshire.

Front row left to right;Adrian Quinn, Cameron Wiltshire, Robert Delaney, Tommy Crowley (GK), Holger Marl, Sean Glennon.

Leinster Ladies League Div 9: Naas 4s 4 - 0 Mullingar 1s

Player of the match: Katelyn Griffith

On Saturday Mullingar 1s set off to face Naas 3s for the first encounter of the season. Mullingar knew they were in for a challenging 70 minutes as they were travelling with the bare 11 players.

The first half saw Naas dominate the majority of the play. It was clear that the Mullingar team felt disconnected as Naas were managing to play down the pitch and into Mullingar’s defending ‘D’ countless times. However, Mullingar ‘keeper Sophie Marry did her job to a T by mopping up any loose balls. Naas did manage to get their first goal about ten minutes into the first quarter. With Mullingar asleep in their defending ‘D’, Naas players were left with enough space to take a shot onto the backboard. Not long after this they doubled their lead when, again, a ball dropped in from the left side of Mullingar’s defending ‘D’ was passed to a free Naas player on the opposite side of the goal where it was deflected in.

The second quarter was almost a repeat of the first quarter for Naas. Mullingar had still not quite settled into the play. The Mullingar defending ‘D’ was still being left with free Naas players. Another strong play from Naas saw the ball played into Mullingar’s defending ‘D’ where a Naas players picked it up. Mullingar keeper Marry worked to keep the ball out. However, the cleared ball found a Naas stick at the edge of the ‘D’ where it was sent back to Marry where her foot padding unluckily caught the ground as she went to connect with the ball, allowing Naas their third goal. Between the first and second quarters, Naas had won numerous short corners against Mullingar. Despite this they had not managed to score from any of these advantaged plays thanks to some great pressure from Mullingar defenders Emer Donnelly, Rachel Crowe, Leah Harding and Claudette Jenner. However, Naas managed to eventually break through Mullingar’s defensive set-up during the short corners and took a 4-0 lead.

At half-time, it was sensed that the scoreline was starting to affect Mullingar’s mentality slightly but captain Ruby Murray refocused the squad. Throughout the second half it was evident that Mullingar had now put the scoreline behind them and focused on keeping the energy up on the pitch despite having no substitutes waiting on the bench. Mullingar were starting to connect more as a team now. Some great play from Emma Harding and Sarah Cawley in midfield found the team on brilliant attacks that found Ruby Murray, Katelyn Griffith and Amelia Bruton at the top of the pitch. Great passing was carried out between players on the attack allowing Mullingar some very good attacking chances but they just couldn’t find the final touch to get it past the Naas defence. This play also allowed Mullingar to receive some short corners across the second half but the luck wasn’t going their way with these either. Mullingar retained the pressure on Naas for the remainder of the match and prevented Naas from gaining any more of a lead.

Mullingar 1s next match is on Saturday February 24 against North Kildare at 3:30pm in North Kildare Sports Club.

Mullingar squad that faced Naas 3s: Sophie Marry (GK), Leah Harding, Claudette Jenner, Emer Donnelly, Rachel Crowe, Amelia Bruton, Emma Harding, Sarah Cawley, Ruby Murray (Captain), Katelyn Griffith and Joan Leonard.

Leinster Ladies Vets League Div 3

Avoca 3s 0-1 Mullingar 1s

(Goalscorer: Laura Halligan); Player of the Match: Sinead Purtil

On Friday night, February 16, Mullingar Vets faced Avoca 3s in Dominican College, Sion Hill.

Due to some players having other commitments, Mullingar lined out one player short, with only a squad of ten against an Avoca squad of fifteen. For the first two quarters, Mullingar played defensively, very aware of their one player disadvantage. But in the third quarter, they found the courage in their ability to push forward and produce a goal.

Therese O'Keeffe crossed a pinpoint accurate ball across the ‘D’ to Laura Halligan, who was waiting at the left-hand post, and she scored with a perfect first touch.

In the fourth quarter, with nothing to lose, Avoca had a few minor chances themselves but never really threatened the Mullingar defence.

The forwards for Mullingar were unlucky not to score in the last few minutes of the last quarter with near misses from Joan Leonard and Therese Russell.

The game and victory was a credit to a very strong-willed, ten player Mullingar Vets team.

Next fixtures: Away to Malahide this Tuesday, February 20.