No joy for Mullingar in Junior Cup Final

The seconds travelled to Serpentine Ave, the home of Pembroke Wanderers, to face Weston in the Junior Cup final. The game started well for Mullingar, with two short-corners being awarded to the midlanders inside the first ten minutes. But alas, the ball out wasn't as direct as it could have and both chances went abegging.When Weston were awarded their first short-corner, the Mullingar lads knew what they were up against, as it was dispatched to the top corner, with a drag flick, by their centre forward, who will be playing Division One hockey next year. Five minutes after their first, they got another short and it was dispatched the exact same way, with Paddy Kenny, in goal, helpless.On twenty minutes, Stephen Matthews was sin-binned, after he reacted to some abuse that was sent his way from some Weston fans in the crowd. Unbelievably, two minutes after Stephen's dismissal, Glen Parnell was yellow carded for a rash tackle inside the 25.They scored from the short, not the top corner like the previous two, but off Eddie Lindsay's stick and into the net. With Mullingar down to nine and trying to stay in the game, against the constant passing and tricks from the Weston lads, five of whom played our first team recently. On the stroke of half-time, Weston got their fourth, their only one from play. Their left winger was given two much time and allowed to wander unchallenged across the 'D' and gave Paddy Kenny no chance with a sweet strike.The half-time talk, mainly consisted of Derek Mulligan telling the lads to enjoy the remainder of the game and forget about the senior standard they were trying to compete with. If the truth were known, our firs's would have struggled to compete with the Lucan lads. In the second-half, the Mullingar lads were a different team, with Jim Bob Baker getting loads of ball on the right wing and even Derek Mulligan was finding a foothold in the game, even though he took a nasty bang to the hand at the end of the first-half. On 47 minutes, Colin Watters was given his marching orders, winning a fifty/fifty ball, but his momentum carried him into the Weston player.When Mullingar were returned to the full complement, Peter Collins got his and Mullingar's first shot on target to get Mullingar's opener. With five minutes left in the game, Collins got his second, following a goalmouth scramble. Mullingar had a late chance, after they were awarded a short-corner, but like the shorts in the first-half, the ball out was terrible and nothing came of the late chance. One highlight of the day, was the way Mullingar captain Derek Mulligan called up his team to accept their losers medals, as he had a nickname for everyone, which had the large Mullingar support in stitches.Mullingar squad: Paddy Kenny, Andy Yeoman, Eddie Lindsay, Andrew Melbourne, Peter Spidel, Stephen Matthews, Derek Mulligan (c), Graeme Hague, Glen Parnell, Peter Collins, Colin Watters, Jim Bob Baker, Fergus Walls, Holgar Marl, Paddy Rooney and Ollie Field. Alan Mangan would have been in the squad, but was away on holidays.The second's would like to thank the vast Mullingar support to made the trip up and also to The Old Stand for the way they've looked after us this season.Leinster League Division 4Three Rock Rovers 3rds 2Mullingar 1sts 1(H. Marl)On Saturday, Mullingar travelled to Rathfarnham to take on Rovers. On a glorious day for hockey, it was Mullingar who took the game to Rovers with Tom Bowers and Peter Collins taking the game to the hosts.For all their possession Mullingar failed to score with Wayne Gilhooley and Chris Bull going close.Mullingar thought they had taken the lead when Gilhooley fired home from a short corner but after awarding the goal, the umpire had a change of mind and disallowed it. Mullingar didn't have long to wait to open the scoring when Holger Marl fired in at the back post following an excellent cross from his brother Sören.This sparked Rovers into action and they went close through a couple of speculative efforts. They regained parity with five minutes left in the half when a well worked short-corner routine found its way into the net despite the best efforts of John Murphy.Mullingar looked a bit shocked and Rovers pounced to get a second when they intercepted a hit out and drove to goal and finished well on the stroke of half time. In the second half Rovers began the stronger with Mullingar still shell shocked from the goal on the stroke of half time. However as the half ticked on, Mullingar threw everything at the hosts with Bull and Gilhooley bringing out the best in the Rovers 'keeper. Try as they might they just couldn't get the equalising goal and in the end, it was a disappointing result as Mullingar's performance deserved at least a point.Mullingar: Daragh Ryan, Sören Marl, John Murphy, Woody O'Neill, Michael Gibson-Brabazon, Peter Collins, Tom Bowers, Stuart Synnott, Holger Marl, Chris Bull, Wayne Gilhooley and Stephen O'Neill.