Mullingar’s second XV claim the spoils in Drogheda clash

Leinster 2nds League: Boyne 19, Mullingar 45

A second half blitz by Mullingar’s second string in Drogheda on Sunday proved too much for Boyne as Mullingar ran in 40 unanswered points to stay top of Division 1B of the Leinster Seconds League.

It looked good for Boyne at half time as they were leading 19-5; however, a much more determined Mullingar side emerged, which cut out the errors of the first half and were too strong all over the pitch for the home side.

Boyne were the first to score after about 15 minutes. They turned over the ball twice and each time they kicked for touch gaining good ground, which resulted in the first try, duly converted to give the home side a 7-0 lead.

Mullingar conceded a penalty directly from the drop off to give Boyne a further advantage, however the visitors were able to clear their defence and move rapidly up field to score a try by Conor Hayden, which was unconverted to put the score at 7-5.

A few missed tackles led to Boyne’s second try which was unconverted, and their third was a simple pick-up at a ruck by their scrum half, who waltzed through for a touchdown under the posts. Simple errors by Mullingar had gifted Boyne 12 easy points, but that was to be the end of the gifts given by Mullingar.

The men in scarlet and dove grey started the second half in a much more determined manner, and some good carries by Killian McNay, Cillian Kavanagh, Alex Moran in the forwards and Sean Cronin and Darragh Lambe in the backline resulted in a ruck about 20m from the Boyne line. In a replica of Boyne’s third try, Ross Tormey just picked up from the ruck and danced in for Mullingar’s second try to put the score at 19-12.

Mullingar were starting to really dominate the game, with their front row of Oisín Burke, Kevin Smith and Matt Doyle making their presence felt. The two K(C)illians in the second row were beginning to boss the open play along with the back row of Alex Moran, Fintan Larkin and Conor Glennon, and almost all of the play was in the Boyne half of the field.

The scores were level after Kevin Smith had picked up the ball from a lineout and ran through the Boyne defence to touch down. Confidence was up, and the Multy influence at out-half was a constant worry for Boyne. Mullingar’s two centres Sean Cronin and Darragh Lambe, who would normally play in the forwards, were making big carries.

A third second half try came just before the water break, this time by Alex Moran to put Mullingar in the lead by 19-26. Three further tries by Fintan Larkin and two from Conor Hayden put a nice shine on the scoreline.

The visitors’ two wingers, Hugh O’Neill and Jamie Daly, were always a threat and it’s not often Mullingar have a try scoring hat-trick, but Conor Hayden got his on Sunday.

A resounding win left Mullingar top of the league but only by a point from Carlow. The seconds’ next game is scheduled for Sunday October 31 at home to Cill Dara, as next weekend is a free weekend.

Mullingar 2nd XV Oisín Burke, Kevin Smith, Matthew Doyle, Cillian Kavanagh, Killian McNay (capt.), Fintan Larkin, Alex Moran, Conor Glennon, Ross Tormey, James Kerrigan, Hugh O’Neill, Donal McGovern, Sean Cronin, Jamie Daly, Conor Hayden. Subs: Robert Burge, Anthony Doolan, Darragh Lambe, Louis Prati.