Cats scoop the cream as slump continues

A depleter Mullingar team, fielding without Kerroum, Deering, Smyth, Farlo, Darryl Quinn and Collie McCormack, went under to Kilkenny last week-end. Ultimately, five points separated the sides could it have been so different.Some positives were garnered from the afternoon. Shane Murray is fast earning himself a regular shirt, and first-time front-rower Stephen Fitzpatrick was thoroughly adequate. And as for Dec Murphy? Immense in the line-out, his additional work in the loose made me forget we were missing Kerroum. And he only gave away two penalties all day. Surely a family record.And whilst on the subject of penalties, kudos to the collective discipline which only gave away seven in the game, compared to the outrageously philanthropic 27 donated to Longford at last outing.Kilkenny started with much gusto. Mullingar spent a lot of the opening quarter in their own 22 and conceded the first score on six minutes. It could have been worse, had the home team¹s outhalf been more accurate with two drop goal attempts, but that he went for them was a mark of Mullingar¹s dogged defending. Conor Murtagh and the indominatable Dec Murphy were the kamikazes-in-chief, but were ably supported by Gowran and Kirby who hunted with hungry aplomb.Vinny Hewitt ruled the line-out roost, which allowed Mullingar the occasional breather to get out of their own 22. But Kilkenny were nothing if not relentless, and on 20 minutes would’ve crossed but for some solid brick walling by Alan Brabazon.Yet Mullingar could bare their teeth too, and after a mighty scrum and devilish bit of thievery by that man Murphy again, Mullingar made it to their opponent’s territory for the first time three minutes later. However, an unfortunate break down out right allowed Kilkenny to pounce and counter at pace. A combination of skill and poor tackling gave them a heap of free acres down the left, and with Mullingar stretched, they put it through hands out right for a simple overlap in the corner.Undeterred and unafraid to hit back, Mullingar upped their output and after a series of well disciplined phases, were offered a glimpse of the glory down a tight left channel, only to have the industrious Shane Murray to drop a poor pass with the line in sight. This territory was not relinquished though, and another solid period of disciplined possession was rewarded on 31 minutes when Conor Murtagh slotted his first kick at goal for 8-3.This was Mullingar’s purple patch, and Kilkenny were rattled. Butler, Murtagh and Miller began spraying the ball around with a growing confidence, and everybody got a gallop. A unsuccessful Jack Hogan dash for the line was as good as it got, however.The second half started badly as the talsimanic albatross of coverage, Brian Murphy was sin binned.This was only compounded moments later when Hewitt’s back finally called it a day, and the only available replacement, winger Marcus Mortell, necessitated some of Leahy’s finest selectorial juggling. Mullingar were somewhat fortunate during Brianer’s detention, and Kilkenny only added three points to their tally.The return of Murphy on 12 minutes coincided with the end of the impressive Davy Butlers’ shift at the coalface, but this was a little easier for Peter to sort out as Conor Murtagh and David Miller each just took a few steps inside, and normality was returned.On 16 minutes, Marcus Mortell nearly got to fire up the afterburners after Ritchie Pyke found a little half gap, but it was not to be. Two minutes later, though, a cheeky quick tap from Dec Murphy made some substantial territory and from the ensuing platform, Kilkenny were punished again by Murtagh to leave it 11-6 and back to a one score game.In the 24th minute, Roger O¹Callaghan’s left boot put Mullingar in the Kilkenny 22 for the first time. From the ensuing line-out Stephen Fitzpatrick was unlucky not to get a penalty under the posts for a high tackle. A few minutes later it was Ray Murphy’s turn to release Mortell but his pass was agonisingly forward.With five minutes to go, Mullingar were awarded a kickable penalty but chose to go to the corner. An unfortunate slice off the boot saw the ball drift over touch-in-goal and that was all Kilkenny needed. They put it back into Mullingar territory and were disciplined enough to keep it up there until the ref called it a day.FixturesBoth the Seconds and Firsts are at home to Edenderry next Saturday evening, with the 2nd XV kicking off at 6pm and the 1st XV at 7.30pm.Team: Shane Murray, Nigel Mills, James O¹Hara, Vinny Hewitt, Ollie Kirby, Declan Murphy, Denis Gowran, Ray Murphy, David Butler, Conor Murtagh, Roger O¹Callaghan, Davy Miller, Alan Brabazon, Jack Hogan, Brian Murphy. Subs used: Mark Reilly, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Ritchie Pyke, Marcus Mortell, Paddy Butler.Scorers: Pens: Conor Murtagh (2).