Mullingar firsts suffer defeat in run up to the Cup

After conceding a try in the opening three minutes, Mullingar fought back to within two points with 19 minutes left, only to allow the fairly impressive visitors hit them for an unanswered point for each of the minutes remaining.Hands were held up by a number of chaps as they owned up to some questionable decision making but their canny old coach, Geoff Ta¹taurangi, is a man with a broader view and was not as fazed as his charges.He appreciates how games this finely balanced can turn on the simplest of moments and Mullingar had their tipping point in the 49th minute with God¹s outrageous ankle tap.Looking more and more like the ascendancy was arriving, talismanic lock Ray Murphy beat three defenders down the blindside and side stepped their full back at full pace with only the line to cross and the lead to take when his footing was divinely interrupted.The Clondalkin phew was enough to turn the game from 50-50 to to 51-49. And perhaps to 70-30 by the final whistle.Clondalkin started much the brighter and it took Mullingar a good 10 minutes to get the hang of their running lines. By this stage it was already 10-0.Gradually, the home side started to fire and Clondalkin had to defend, with both Miller and Angus Smith gave them early frights.Then, on the half hour, Mullingar won a penallty in their own half which was monstered to touch just outside the opposition 22 by Brian Murphy.The line out was professionally gathered and Mullingar went on a heart warming 25-metre rampage to the Clondalkin line.Though stopped, the ensuing scrum kept the pressure on and from the back of it Mark Potter started and finished a deft four hander to cross with aplomb.Five minutes later, Aongus Smyth raised the first flag of the year after a great bit of maul burglary by Beezer Brady saw Clondalkin pinged for a childish offside.Mullingar should have then taken the lead just on the stroke of hallf time as the Murphy boys went on safari and fed Aongus who put it to a dangerous corner.A stolen line-out and quick flash should have touched down in the corner only for the ref to pull the midfield for accidental crossing.Considering the start, 8-10 at half time was a fair return. When they came back out, this vein was continued and only five minutes in, Niall Smith¹ s unlucky cold hands were the thwarters of a dangerous looking back move at pace.Two minutes later, the pendulum swung towards west Dublin and they stretched the lead by another three.But Mullingar still had some game left in them.Robbie Ryland forced them back into their own 22 after a courageous charge down that even stung my hands listening to it.Another great momentum roller by the forwards gave Mullingar the platform to break down the right side and Clondalkin were split apart.Dancing like Drico on speed, Ray Murphy went for it from about 15m out and should have equalised the game, only for that cracking tackle denied himThis was the switch. From the ensuing breakdown neither Miller or Hoey could orchestrate further danger and Clondalkin were safe.Mullingar tried to find another pulse and Swanson was a brave and solid gainline batterer in midfield for them, to such an extent that he left the field with what looked like a Morris Minor of a shiner in his right eyebrow. But the collective spark was fast evaporating.Even the uber-reliable Brian Smith knocked on when he looked clean through on a great line.This was, unfortunately, to be his last play, as a recalcitrant groin gave way to full throttle.Deering was an able replacement and added some dash to a waning outfit, but the see-saw had gone over.Hewitt and Beezer contrived to snaffle another penalty out of the Clondalkin pack on 60 minutes which Aongus dispatched but that was to be that.Penalties on 61, 66 and 73 minutes saw Clondalkin stretch to the confidence of beyond bonus, and straight off the re-start of the last of these the visiting hooker waltzed through a bunch of flapping ladies to set up his winger for a kick and chase which he put under the posts.Mullingar never left their 22 for the remainder of the match and Clondalkin were unlucky not to cross again.A last kick of the game penalty saw them finish out the game as impressive 11-32 victors, leaving Mulllingar with some tinker work to do between now and 7.30 next Saturday night when they face Ashbourne in the cup under lights. A game they will win.Team: Adriel 'Farlo' Farrell, Jamie O¹Hara, Bernard 'Beezer' Brady, Ray Murphy, Ollie Kirby, Tony Doolin, Pete Gibson, Mark Potter, Brian Hoey, Davy Miller, Robbie Ryland, Craig Swanson, Niall Smith, Aongus Smyth, Brian Murphy. Subs used: Shane Deering, Vinny Hewitt.Scorers: Tries: Mark Potter, Pens: Aongus Smith (2)Calling all ladies!Any women in the Mullingar area who would be interested in re-starting the ladies rugby team should call Audrey Thomas on 085-1397334.