Town survive second-half scare to advance

Mullingar town 5 - 2 Ballymahon

Mullingar Town booked their place into the next round of the Combined Counties Cup in a bitterly cold and cloudy Dalton Park on Saturday afternoon with what was a comfortable win on paper, yet in reality it was the opposite. A two-goal advantage was lost in the opening moments of the second-half, but the hosts dug their heels in and prevailed in the face of strong Ballymahon pressure.

Three goals in the final 30 minutes, two of which were scored by substitute Oisin Tyrrell, paved the way for a decisive victory in the end.

The opening 20 minutes of the game belonged to Mullingar Town, with the only chance to note for the visitors coming 15 minutes in when Adrian Rapacki had to punch clear a dangerous free. Two minutes had gone by for the host’s first chance which saw Derek McNicolas charging through the centre of the opposing defence before pulling his effort left and wide. The opening goal came a minute later; David Masterson was seen steaming along the end-line before cutting the ball into an awaiting Michael Fadian in the middle of the box to slide in his effort.

The Town’s corners were creating opportunities, whipped in by Jamie Loran, as Derek McNicholas was unlucky not to find the net after five minutes with his onrushing header. Another of Loran’s corners did strike gold 12 minutes in when Dean Kavanagh rushed onto the ball like a charging bull to fire home with his head, while Michael Fadian’s effort six minutes later was too light to cause any problems for Cian Tighe in the visitors’ goal.

Ballymahon began to grow into the match after the Town’s purple patch, and their goal on 21 minutes gave them booming confidence. Adam Keegan’s cross found Conor McNamara in the middle who forced the ball over the line. The chance to level it up came ten minutes later when Jadan Kelly was denied on the goal line, leaving Mullingar Town clinging onto a 2-1 half-time lead.

Shortlived turnaround

Six minutes into the second-half, Frankie McGee’s corner found Jack Smith who was first to the ball and found the net, levelling the sides. McGee’s free a minute later was punched away by Adrian Rapacki, who would not be beaten for a third time. After this chance, Mullingar Town wrestled back control, as chances from Darragh Kiernan and Derek McNicholas failed to break the deadlock.

In the 60th minute, Oisin Tyrrell made his mark for the hosts. After Jamie Loran went on a rampaging run to be denied by the goalkeeper, the substitute was on hand to slide in the rebound to push his team ahead once again. The Longford men couldn’t muster a leveller to their dismay, despite chances in the dying moments from Frankie McGee, one of which was palmed away superbly by Adrian Rapacki. In the 75th minute Jamie Loran got his goal, as the man they call ‘chipper’ in Dalton Park got the better of Ballymahon’s last defender back thanks to great determination to put his effort into the net. Loran would square it to Oisin Tyrrell to complete his brace five minutes later, the substitute couldn’t miss, and thus, Mulllingar Town’s place in the next round of the cup was secured.

Mullingar Town AFC Goals: Oisin Tyrrell 2, Dean Kavanagh, Jamie Loran and Michael Fadian 1 each.

Assists: Jamie Loran 2, David Masterson 1.

Ballymahon FC Goals: Conor McNamara and Jack Smith 1 each.

Assists: Adam Keegan and Frankie McGee 1 each.

Mullingar Town AFC: Adrian Rapacki; Michael Loran, Stephen McNamee, Gary McMahon, Jason McGrath; Dean Kavanagh, Jamie Loran, David Masterson; Michael Fadian, Derek McNicolas, Darragh Kiernan.

Substitutes: Cian McGrath for Michael Fadian (20), Oisin Tyrrell for Derek McNicolas (58), Mick O’Rourke for Michael Loran (61), Gerry Bowen for Gary McMahon (70), Breece Fadian for Darragh Kiernan (89).

Ballymahon FC: Cian Tighe; Cian Caberry, Robbie Harrison, Lee Coughlan, Ed Cummins; John Nevin, Adam Keegan, Jadan Kelly; Frankie McGee, Conor McNamara, Jack Smith.

Substitutes: Joe Kelly for Adam Keegan (23), Josh McDigan for Joe Kelly (35), Wayne Higgins for Jadan Kelly (40), Shane Bannon for Robbie Harrison (70), Miguel Pinta for Cian Caberry (82).

Referee: Ultan Beaumont.