Keegan brace ensures emphatic derby win for Mullingar Town

Mullingar Town 4 - 0 Mullingar Celtic

It was a difficult evening for Mullingar Celtic last Saturday under the cold and gusty Gainstown floodlights as they were on the receiving end of a heavy defeat by neighbours Mullingar Town. Goals from Michael Fadian and Cian McGrath had the Town in a healthy position at half-time, before Johnny Keegan’s brace off the bench, despite a penalty miss earlier in the half, sealed the deal.

Mullingar Town struck early in this local derby. Jamie Loran lobbed the ball across the face of goal just four minutes in to set up Michael Fadian, who volleyed without the greatest conviction, though it was enough to see the ball trickle past Rory Matthews’s right hand and into the corner. Mullingar Celtic nearly responded two minutes later, but Dale Gibney Tarleton’s low cross went beyond an onrushing Pádraic McComb at the back post.

Mullingar Town went on to take control of proceeding for the first half hour of the match; Fola Ayorinde would show great strength to get his shot off his opponent in a 1-on-1 scenario with just one defender back for Celtic, only for his shot to go wide and his penalty cries went unnoticed by the match official. Meanwhile, chances came aplenty for their opponents: Jamie Loran and Ryan Dempsey both had great opportunities to score during this productive period, but the former scuffed his shot 15 minutes in and the latter’s header landed over the crossbar and wide.

One third of the way through the contest, a pass back to the 'keeper by Nathan Gavin was intercepted by a lurking Cian McGrath, who gratefully accepted the gift by rounding Rory Matthews and sliding the ball into the far corner of the net for the Town. Celtic were given a lifeline, though a couple of minutes later when Pádraic McComb was deemed to be fouled in the box and a penalty resulted. Fola Ayoride stepped up to take the spot-kick, but to his horror, the ball flew high, right and wide.

Ayorinde had two further attempts to score before the half reached its end, but couldn’t convert despite his determination, and the Town held a 2-0 lead at the break.

Celtic opportunities

Hard tackles were constantly flying in throughout the match from both teams. The first half an hour minutes of the second 45 belonged to Mullingar Celtic; during this purple patch Nathan Gavin, Colm Baker and Dale Gibney Tarleton all had great chances. Baker’s header down had to be cleared away by a covering Gary McMahon and Alan Farrell had to intervene superbly to get down low and deny Tarleton. Mullingar Town struggled to find any clear-cut chances during this time, though Michael Loran’s ambitious volleyed shot had to be punched away from danger in the 57th minute.

It was Mullingar Celtic who continued to generate chances as Colm Baker and Dale Gibney Tarleton had further opportunities, while Dylan Cannon’s free in the 78th minute was deflected wide, the defender threatening with dangerous frees and crosses all evening for his team.

Mullingar Town would slot home goal number three in the 81st minute when Johnny Keelin was on the end of fellow substitute Darragh Kiernan’s cross into the box to find the net. If the outcome wasn’t sealed then, there would be no doubt about the result three minutes later when Darragh Kiernan was fouled by Rory Matthews in a 1-on-1 scenario inside the large rectangle. Keelin would seal his brace from the resulting penalty, tucking his shot away to his right hand side. The Town would see the game out from here, and victory in the derby was theirs.

Mullingar Town Goals: Johnny Keegan 2 (1penalty), Michael Fadian and Cian McGrath 1 each.

Assists: Jamie Loran and Darragh Kiernan 1 each.

Mullingar Town: Alan Farrell; Mick O’Rourke, Stephen McNamee, Jason McGrath, Gary McMahon; Dean Kavanagh, Jamie Loran, Oisin Tyrell; Michael Fadian, Breece Fadian, Cian McGrath.

Substitutes: Johnny Keegan for Jamie Loran, Michael Loran for Breece Fadian and Darragh Kiernan for Oisin Tyrell (half-time), Michael Grimes for Cian McGrath (65), Jack Hall for Michael Fadian (87).

Mullingar Celtic: Rory Matthews; Dylan Cannon, Ricky Scally, Nathan Gavin, Colm Baker; Glen Coffey, Dale Gibney Tarleton, David Jessop; Fola Ayorinde, Pádraic McComb, Ryan Dempsey.

Substitutes: Rory Daly for Pádraic McComb (69), Cian Doran for Colm Baker (81), Jamie Tarleton for Ryan Dempsey (84).

Referee: Ray Conlon.