Mullingar finish the season in third place

Mullingar RFC: Mullingar J1 13 - 42 DLSP J1

De La Salle Palmerston (DLSP) produced a dominant second-half display to secure a vital 42-14 victory over Mullingar Rugby Club's J1 side at Shay Murtagh Park last weekend.

The hosts, already assured of third place in the league, had little riding on the result, but they made DLSP work hard for their win, at least in the first half.

The visitors started brightly, eager to take control of their own destiny, and edged ahead with two early penalties. However, Mullingar responded with a well-worked try, briefly taking the lead. DLSP continued to pile on the pressure and crossed the whitewash twice before the break, holding a narrow 18-14 advantage at half-time.

The match remained in the balance early in the second period until a pivotal moment changed the course of the contest. Mullingar’s David Manning was shown a red card shortly after the restart, reducing the home side to 14 men. From there, DLSP took full advantage, running in three unanswered tries as they ruthlessly exploited the extra space. With their survival on the line, the visitors showed no mercy, putting the result beyond doubt in the final quarter.

Mullingar, despite some spirited play in the first half, struggled to contain a rampant DLSP side that knew exactly what was at stake. The final whistle confirmed a 42-14 win for the visitors, sparking celebrations among their players and supporters. However, as the result filtered in from Dundalk the celebrations became more muted, as they must now face a relegation play-off against Coolmine.

While Mullingar will be a little disappointed with how the season finished they can be reasonably satisfied with their overall performance in their return to this league. They will hope to use it a springboard to push on again next season.

J2 side no match for DLSP in final league encounter

Mullingar J2 7 - 35 DLSP J2

DLSP wrapped up their league campaign with a comprehensive 35-7 victory over Mullingar, though the final scoreline did not fully reflect the home side’s spirited performance.

With their league position already secured, Mullingar approached the match with little at stake, using the opportunity to give game time to several players making their season debuts. Despite this, they produced a creditable display, particularly in the first half, where they defended resolutely and showed flashes of attacking intent. DLSP, however, proved too strong over the course of the 80 minutes. Their forward pack laid a solid platform, allowing the backs to exploit space out wide, and they crossed for five tries in total.

Mullingar responded with a well-worked score of their own, but they struggled to consistently break down a well-organized DLSP defence.

While the result brought the league season to a close for Mullingar, attention now shifts to cup competitions. Their Second XV will be eager to put in a strong performance in the upcoming Seconds Cup clash against Gorey on March 23, while the Thirds have entered the

Anderson Cup and are still actively recruiting players to bolster their squad.

For DLSP, the win capped off their campaign on a high note, showcasing their quality and depth as they now turn their focus to the next challenge.