Athletic through to Counties Cup final

A great strike from midfield general Kevin Keegan, in the third last minute of normal time, proved decisive as Athletic won the battle of the two Mullingars.Sadly, very few locals turned up to witness a thrilling contest between two well-matched teams. The game looked certain to go to extra-time until Keegan pounced from 20 metres, after Niall Flynn"s hotly-disputed free kick had rebounded to apparent safety, from a Town perspective. Try as they might, the lads in red and black were unable to manufacture an equaliser and it was the men in yellow and green who advance to a showdown next Sunday in Roscrea with Willow Park.This was an action-packed game from start to finish, which deserved a bigger audience. The winners came close to taking a very early lead but a thunderous shot from impressive young winger Dara Kiernan came back off the crossbar. However, it wasn"t long before Athletic carved out a goal, David Masterson coming forward from defence to head home Claudio Nardone"s pin-point cross from close range. There was to be no let-up in the end-to-end action and Town were level with less than five minutes on the clock, Stephen Fadian availing of slack Athletic defending to coolly roll the ball under Jason Daly from 15 metres.Within a minute, Athletic almost regained the lead, Kevin Keegan"s cheeky 15-metre lob being kept out by agile Town "keeper, Vinny McKevitt. At the other end, Stan Charles was well off target from a long-range free. In the 11th minute, Town"s skilful captain, Michael Fadian deflected the ball under pressure over his own goalline, but the "goal" did not stand, referee Eddie O"Riordan (whose officiating was at times overly fussy and demonstrative) having blown for an offside moments earlier. It was difficult to know what drama would next unfold in this intriguing contest, Town coming close to a soft lead goal, Stephen Fadian this time popping up at the "right" end of the pitch and his far-from-powerful header being saved unsteadily by Jason Daly. Town were under pressure any time that Dara Kiernan whipped in a dangerous corner but they survived a particularly vicious inswinger in the 17th minute.Town went ahead in the 22nd minute. With Jason Daly failing to command his area, the ball fell kindly for James Nevin on the edge of the box and the centre forward showed wonderful class and composure to stroke the ball past an assortment of players into the bottom corner. Both sides had periods of dominance in the ensuing 20 minutes, but Vinny McKevitt was the busier netminder overall. He dealt capably with all that was thrown at him, doing especially well to tip over two well-struck free kicks from Kevin Keegan and Niall Flynn in the 37th and 40th minutes respectively. Jason Charles produced a fine tackle to keep out James Fagan but Athletic worked a terrific equaliser in the first minute of added-time. Claudio Nardone picked out Sylvester Booziomy and his measured low cross was delightfully guided into the net from close range by Niall Flynn. This left the scores tied at two-all as the sides took a well-deserved half-time break.A more cautious approach from both teams meant that scoring chances were not as plentiful in the second moiety. In the tenth minute, a good volley from Athletic"s Niall Flynn lacked accuracy but almost flew in off the outstretched leg of team-mate Willie McGovern. The woodwork at both ends continued to be pounded and Town"s Michael Fadian was denied by the crossbar in the 13th minute, Jason Charles unable also to guide in the rebound. Soon afterwards, a clearly incorrect lineball awarded to Athletic led to a corner which ultimately came to nothing. Athletic then spurned a glorious goal chance, Claudio Nardone setting up Stephen Markey for a one-on-one with Vinny McKevitt, but the Town goalie again proved up to the challenge and spread himself well to keep out Markey"s effort. Midway through the half, Stan Charles was well wide from a free header while, at the other end, Kevin Keegan had mixed fortunes with two long-range shots. The first rattled the crossbar, while the second flew harmlessly over the bar.Two corners to the Town proved fruitless, with the winners" goalkeeper Jason Daly adjudged to be fouled when the ball came his way for the second. In the 36th minute, Mark Syron spectacularly conceded another corner but again the Town wasted the place kick. Five minutes later, Town did scramble a "goal", but the whistle had gone for an offside and Athletic got off the hook. It looked progressively like the game would go to extra-time but there was one last twist in this absorbing game. A dubious free kick to Athletic just outside the box was taken by Niall Flynn, but a less-than-convincing effort came back off the Town wall and fell for Kevin Keegan who rifled the ball back from 20 metres. For a split second, the woodwork seemed again to be the spoilsport but in Geoff Hurst fashion the ball came off the underside of the crossbar. Unlike the World Cup final of 1966, there was no disputing that the ball had crossed the line and Athletic players joyously celebrated a match-winning goal. Six minutes stoppage time was played but there were no further goals. Indeed, Athletic were the closer to adding to their total, with that man Keegan almost in again for his second of the day. A last-gasp free to Town was taken by Stan Charles but, in truth, the losers never threatened to fashion a late, late equaliser.Mullingar Athletic: Jason Daly, Claudio Nardone, Willie McGovern, David Masterson, Mark Syron (capt), Sylvester Booziomy, Dara Kiernan, Stephen Markey, Niall Flynn, Kevin Keegan, James Fagan. Subs: James Carroll (for Booziomy, 76 mins), David O"Riordan (for Fagan, 86 mins), Niall O"Connor (for McGovern, inj, 90 + 6 mins).Mullingar Town: Vinny McKevitt, Martin Charles, Ethan Scally, Martin Coyne, Jason Charles, Jimmy McEntee, Jason Duff, Stephen Fadian, James Nevin, Michael Fadian (capt), Stan Charles. Subs: Chris Vella (for Nevin, 86 mins), Nigel Graham (for M.Charles, 90 + 3 mins).Referee: Eddie O"Riordan.