Great week as Athletic make it two in a row
On Wednesday evening last Mullingar Athletic travelled away to Clara for their third league game of the season.This has always been a very difficult fixture for the Mullingar side and they have failed to take points at this venue for a number of seasons. Buoyed by a good win on the previous Saturday night against CK United Mullingar were growing in confidence and were prepared to win ugly on what was a very difficult surface and venue.The breakthrough finally came for midway through the second half and following a goalmouth scramble the ball looped over the goalkeepers head and nestled in the back of the net. The most notable aspect of the game was the splendid performance from Mullingar centre forward Michael Fadian.The Mullingar back four of Kevin Campbell, Stevie Markey, Mark Syron and Tony Dunne were steadfast throughout and offered great cover to keeper Joe Martin who made a number of important interceptions and saves over the ninth minutes.On a somewhat downbeat note Mullingar Athletic AFC centre forward Niall Flynn was shown a second yellow card for dissent on eighty eight minutes and dismissed by match referee.Team: Joe Martin, Kevin Campbell, Mark Syron, Stevie Markey, Tony Dunne, Stephen Fadian, Kevin Keegan, Pavel Seymeczho, Dara Kiernan, Michael Fadian, Niall Flynn, Subs: Shane Archibald for Shane Dunne for Jimmey Mcentee, Pavel Seymeczho for Dara Kiernan.MCCFL Senior DivisionMullingar Athletic AFC 1Michael Fadian 1Killavilla United FC 0On Saturday night last Mullingar Athletic AFC completed an excellent week with a third win from three games and a result which sees them go to the top of the CCFL Senior League table. A forgettable first half that saw few chances created by either side was endured by fans of both sides. Athletic's right full, Tony Dunne headed off the line at the back post from a Kilavilla corner on fifteen minutes and this was the nearest the visitors came to scoring in the first period. Mullingar were a little more adventurous going forward however the final ball to the danger area was somewhat poor. On thirty minutes however, Shane Archibald came close to an opener when a Jimmey McEntee cross from the left wing beat the keeper, however Archibold's effort just shaved the left hand upright.With the second half underway Mullingar were in the accendancy and really began to dominate proceedings. Contineous pressure on the Killavilla defence seen Michael Fadian and Dara Kiernan shoot over the cross bar with blistering shots from close range. The deadlock was finally broken on seventy five minutes when Michael Fadian finished to the net from ten yards as the Killavilla keeper lay sprawled on the ground having just saved a shot from Kevin Keegan. The keeper parried the ball clear to Stephen Markey who found Fadian in space about ten yards out and Fadian had composure to finish to an empty net.With fifteen minutes left Killavilla had to gamble going forward and this created space at the back. Shane Archibold came close to exploiting this space with a long range effort from the right hand side that just shaved the angle of upright and crossbar. Michael Fadian had a rasping effort parried over the bar by an alert Killavill keeper on eighty five minutes. However, Killavilla nearly stole a late equalizer when Athletic failed to clear their lines and after a series of misplaced shots Tony Dunne once again came to the rescue with a goal line clearance. This was the last action of the game and another valuable three points obtained for the senior team and a place at the top of the league table.Team: Colm Baker, Kevin Campbell, Mark Syron, Stevie Markey, Tony Dunne, Stephen Fadian, Kevin Keegan, Pavel Seymeczho, Jimmey McEntee, Michael Fadian, Joey O'Connor. Subs: Shane Archibald for Stephen Fadian (Injured) on 20 mins, Dara Kiernan for Kevin Campbell. Barry Beglan, Andres Gueres.