Celtic keep the title dream alive

In Gainstown on Sunday last, Mullingar Celtic kept their season on an upward trajectory with a well merited but hard fought victory against Temple Villa.

In ideal conditions it was Celtic who played the better football, but lapses let their opponents score twice before two superb strikes from Ryan Dempsey ultimately sealed the deal, in what was a very entertaining game to watch.

Celtic could have and possibly should have won by more but their seasoned opponents were dogged throughout and caused endless headaches.

It was up front that the home side held the advantage with Dempsey, Keith Hope and Mark Hickey in scintillating form and they led a determined Temple Villa defence a merry dance for long periods until they struck for home midway through a thrilling second half and in the end ran out comfortable winners.

The game was a bit of a slow burner with good opportunities at a premium, with Celtic just shading it early on, but against the run of play they conceded a disputable penalty on 28 minutes that Dean O’Neill slotted away for Villa.

It merely got Celtic going, however, and two minutes later the elusive Ryan Dempsey crossed a pearler for Ciaran Shanley to flick the equaliser to the net.

The game fluctuated for the rest of the half with two super save by Rory Matthews in the Celtic goal from Liam Flynn and Aaron O’Neill, while Mark Hickey went close for the hosts, but at the break it was 1-1 and honours even.

The second half started much brighter with both sides going for the jugular and the all-important lead goal and at times it was end to end stuff with Hickey and Johnny Mee from a header almost getting Celtic the advantage.

At the other end, Joe Doyle made two very important blocks to deny Villa's Benny Magennis.

In another chance, Liam Flynn should have put the away side ahead but failed to do so when he had an open goal and a free header.

This woke Celtic from their slumbers and with Mee outstanding at the back, the home side pressed on. When Villa failed to clear their lines, Keith Hope was on hand to slot a beauty in from the edge of the box and Celtic led again after 59 minutes.

That was nearly negated from the kick-off when Dean O’Neill almost doubled his tally and was clean through only to drill wide.

Two minutes later, the Mount Temple side got their reward for their persistence when the impressive Magennis rifled a brilliant shot to the net and, on 61 minutes, it was level at 2-2.

Back came Celtic again with renewed vigour and this time Hope turned provider with a slide rule ball to Dempsey who calmly put his side 3-2 ahead on 63 minutes.

Five minutes later, the score became 4-2 when the exact same combination combined for Dempsey’s second and, in truth, this was the killer blow for Villa.

Celtic went into defensive mode and Villa tried to penetrate but Shanley, Sheridan and the imperious Mee denied them time and again and when that failed keeper Matthews was superb, denying Magennis and then Jay Hyland.

The game petered out to its inevitable conclusion and a memorable win for Mullingar Celtic borne out of persistence and sheer hard work.

Scorers - Mullingar Celtic: Ryan Dempsey 2 (63 and 68 mins), Ciaran Shanley (30 mins) and Keith Hope (59 mins); Temple Villa: Dean O’Neill (28 mins, pen) and Benny Magennis (61 mins).

Mullingar Celtic: Rory Matthews, Gearoid Sheridan, Daire Hynes, Ciaran Shanley, Johnny Mee, Joe Doyle, Ian Keelan, Darren Aughey, Mark Hickey, Keith Hope, Ryan Dempsey. Subs: Dylan Cannon for Sheridan and David Jessop for Doyle (80 mins), Glenn Coffey for Aughey (82), Colm Baker for Hope (87), Jamie Tarleton for Keelan (92).

Temple Villa: Paul Bannon, Dean O’Neill, Hugh Allen, Shane O’Neill, James Craughwell, Damien Rushe, Darren Nugent, Kieran McNally, Aaron O’Neill, Benny Magennis, Liam Flynn. Subs: Donovan Hermbusche for Nugent (63 mins), Jay Hyland for Flynn (68), Davy Cleary for Rushe (71), Sam Nolan for Craughwell (76), Keith Donohue for Allen (87).

Referee: Ross Cole.