Celtic in Paradise after cup victory
Mullingar Celtic 4, Gallen Utd 0
After a disappointing defeat in the league the previous week, Mullingar Celtic made reparations with a superb and well-merited victory in Gainstown on Sunday morning last in this cup tie.
From minute one to 90, Celtic were dominant but they certainly were aided by Gallen losing a man to a straight red after just 90 seconds of play. However, there is little doubt that Celtic were just on their game and no matter what the numerics were they would have triumphed. From front to back they ran the show and indeed could have and should have won by more but the four created and scored were pleasing on the eye and hallmarked a very different team to the one seven days previous.
The game was barely a pup when a superb Cian Farrell ball slid in Mark Hickey who was stopped unceremoniously by Gallen full back Gearóid Daly who not only gave away a free but was red carded after a minute and a half of play. That perceived injustice was further punished when Ricky Scally stepped up and drove a beauty to the top left corner of the net for the opening goal for Celtic and a dream start after two minutes.
Gallen struggled thereafter but did pull themselves together somewhat, but Celtic were in no mood for sympathy and played some excellent football, with Ryan Dempsey firing over the top, Dean Scully unlucky with his effort after a brilliant Mark Hickey ball. After that Dempsey was again unfortunate when he looked certain to score but couldn’t find the finishing touch. Gallen were restricted to half chances and rarely broke the half way line but it would take until the 35th minute for Celtic to double their advantage when Gearóid Sheridan out a slide rule pass in for Dempsey to slot home a super goal.
Seven minutes later that two became three when the latter pounced on a stray Gallen pass, side-stepped through two challenges and clipped over the ‘keeper for the Mullingar side to go in at half-time 3-0 up and cruising.
Gallen tried to regroup and did settle the ship somewhat on the restart with Rian Power and Charlie Gilson making inroads, but Celtic were defiant at the back with Colm Baker and Johnny Mee in steadfast form. Hickey almost found Dean Scully for a fourth with a sublime run and cross, but on 64 minutes Celtic put the game beyond doubt when Sheridan slipped another brilliant ball through to sub Dale Gibney Tarleton and he powered home from a tight angle. It was clinical from the Mullingar men.
The home side were in cruise control from there on with Farrell and Sheridan bossing the midfield, Dylan Cannon superbly spraying the ball around at the back and the subs adding another dimension to what was already a complete display. Farrell was very unlucky to see his pile driver come off the crossbar and the follow-up from Pauric McCoombe went just wide, while another sub Jack Curran almost added a fifth. However, Gallen can be thankful for some heroic goalkeeping from Kevin Slammon who made several great saves, none better than the two from Farrell and Dale Gibney Tarleton very late on that defied description. These mattered little in the end as Celtic ran out easy winners on a good day for the Mullingar side.
Scorers - Mullingar Celtic: Ryan Dempsey 2 (35 + 42 minutes), Ricky Scally (2 minutes) and Dale Gibney Tarleton (64 mins).
Mullingar Celtic: Bernard Glynn, Dylan Cannon, Ricky Scally, Johnny Mee, Colm Baker, Joe Doyle, Mark Hickey, Gearóid Sheridan, Cian Farrell, Dean Scully and Ryan Dempsey subs: Dale Gibney Tarleton for Hickey 54 mins, Darren Aughey and Pauric McCoombe for Scally and Doyle 60 mins, Jamie Tarleton and Jack Curran for Scully and Dempsey 66 mins
Gallen United: Kevin Slammon, Lee Moore, Gearóid Daly, Colin Murray, Stephen Greer, Darren Cullinan, Stephen Screeney, Bernard Corcoran, Charlie Gilson, Ronan Cassidy and Rian Power subs; Lee Guinan for Gilson 54 mins, William Commins for Murray 66 mins, Barry Finnegan for Greer 74 mins
Referee Paul Malone.