Super Connor Smith hat trick

Having demolished Shamrock Rovers 7-0 last week to clinch the league title (their fourth trophy this year), Athletic this week hosted another team competing for second place in the table. Tolka Rovers shot out of the starting gate and could have scored in the first minute. A long, wind assisted pass from midfield cleared the home defence and found the centre forward running in, but his weak effort was easily caught by Gary Caffrey in the Mullingar goals. The visitors continued to pressurise but were caught by a classic counter attack. Conor O"Keeffe crossed to the edge of the six yard box where Connor Smith controlled with his chest, swivelled to his right and volleyed in with his left foot from a tight angle. Within minutes the lead was doubled. Thomas Doyle burst past two tackles, looked up, and crossed low for the same player to sidefoot to the far corner. And Connor Smith completed his hat trick when he raced on to a defence splitting pass and finished with aplomb.Tolka Rovers were shell-shocked because their standard of play did not merit a three goal defecit. Gary Caffrey saved three powerful shots, Darragh Keena and Aaron McLoughlin had to work very hard to contain a strong visiting midfield, whilst central defenders Kevin Boucher and Brendan Flynn also had to be at their best. Kane Lawrence covered the length of the pitch on the left, defending one minute and finding a shooting position the next. Right full back, Shane Dempsey, found himself facing a very fast left winger but coped well with that threat, and combined well with Keith Hope in setting up counter attacks.The visitors clawed themselves back into the game before half time when their attacker raced clear and fired in at the far post. They maintained the momentum in the second period and reduced the deficit further after sixty minutes when their unmarked right winger controlled a cross and dispatched a rocket to the roof of the net. Either side of this Athletic had their chances also. Kevin Boucher"s powerful free kick was caught at the post, whilst Aaron McLoughlin and Darragh Keena fired half chances just over, and Conor O"Keeffe was tackled just before he pulled the trigger.The introduction of Dean McNicholas reinforced the Mullingar defence and James McGovern"s fresh legs created opportunities on the right of midfield. With Tolka Rovers pushing forward in search of the equaliser, more space appeared in their defence. With ten minutes to go Thomas Doyle"s big presence unnerved the visitors, causing a mix up between defender and goalie, and he rolled the ball into an empty net. This ended the game as a contest.Team: Gary Caffrey, Shane Dempsey, Conor O"Keeffe, Brendan Flynn, Kevin Boucher, Darragh Keena, Keith Hope, Aaron McLoughlin, Connor Smith, Thomas Doyle, Kane Lawrence, Dean McNicholas and James McGovern.