Brennan impresses in cup victory for Mullingar Town

Mullingar Town AFC welcomed Walsh Island Shamrocks to Dalton Park for the quarter final of the Paddy Cotter Cup on Sunday on what was a very good day for a game of football.

Town, the Senior Division team, started the liveliest and dominated possession for the majority of the first half. Sam Watkin almost scored with a header after some good work by Davie Dyer. Town came close again when Watkin linked up with Davie Mimnagh, who turned inside the area but curled his effort just over.

Greg Kozicki and Paul Reid were dominating centre midfield and the Town back four of Mimnagh, Chipper Loran, Liam Brennan and Bubba Charles spent most of the first half forcing the Walsh Island team back towards the edge of their own box. In fairness, in the first half they handled whatever Mullingar Town threw at them and got to half time with the game scoreless.

Mullingar Town made a tactical change at half time and added a new dimension to their play in the second half. Paul Reid was unlucky from distance early in the second half, then Nathan Mc Cullagh came close when his shot was saved by the Walsh Island keeper.

Davie Dyer was now influencing the game more and it was his link up with Sam Watkin that saw Watkin pick out McCullagh to score about 12 minutes into the second half. Town's second came shortly after when Paul Reid won possession high in the Walsh Island half and Daragh Kiernan cut inside to find the top corner with a brilliant left strike.

Town created more chances but in fairness the Walsh Island keeper was in fine form. However, he could do nothing about Town's third goal. The brilliant Liam Brennan exchanged a class one two with Shane O'Keefe and found the bottom corner with a fantastic finish. Town introduced some fresh legs when Stevie Markey and Niggy Graham were introduced, but it was another brilliant pass from Davie Dyer who found Daragh Kiernan to make it 4-0 and finish the scoring.

It was a day of fine performances in the Mullingar Town team. The partnership of Bubba Charles and Liam Brennan is developing and improving game by game. Chipper and Mims put in a tireless display of support play. Paul Reid, Greg Kozicki and Davie Dyer, along with Daragh Kiernan and Sam Watkin were top class in and out of possession, and Nathan McCullagh who continues his goal scoring streak. However, the Town man of the match was the top class Liam Brennan whose goal just edges out Paul Reid. Mullingar Town would like to wish Walsh Island Shamrocks all the best for the rest of the season. The Mullingar Town squad was: Adrian Rapacki, Chipper Loran, David Mimnagh, Liam Brennan, Bubba Charles (c), Paul Reid, Greg Kozicki, Davie Dyer, Daragh Kiernan, Sam Watkin, Nathan Mc Cullagh, Shane O Keefe, Stevie Markey.