Late woe for Mullingar Celtic after epic battle

Mullingar Cetic 2 - 4 Moydow (AET)

Mullingar Celtic bowed out of the Michael Dolan Cup at the penultimate stage in Gainstown on Sunday afternoon last in sweltering heat and after dominating the game for the most part.

Celtic played most of the flowing football but they lacked penetration at times and it was ultimately their downfall as a more direct Moydow punished them for their lapses and came away with the spoils.

When Celtic did go the direct route they were rewarded with two fine finishes from Fola Ayorinde and indeed in extra time they were the team pressing for the winner, but it left them slightly exposed at the back and Moydow made them pay accordingly to come away with a rather flattering two goal win.

It was a slow burner of a game; the humidity and heat factor taking its toll and the opening was littered with yellow cards and some questionable tackling.

However, both sides had chances with Ian Keelan going close for Celtic and Darragh Doherty for Moydow drawing a fine save from Rory Matthews in the Celtic goal.

It exploded into life on 38 minutes when Fola Ayorinde stole a ball on the edge of the square, rounded two defenders and struck a beauty to the net for the Celtic opener.

Moydow pressed immediately and Doherty was again denied at point blank range, but in added time at the end of the half they were rewarded when the same player lobbed Matthews from a brilliant Eimhin Clarke flick on.

Amazingly, Celtic could have still went in ahead at the break, but Keith Hope was denied by a super save from Brian Carr and it was 1-1 at the interval.

Moydow kept all the momentum at the start of the second half and they took the lead on 57 minutes when a handball was given in the Celtic box. Clarke netted the resulting penalty from the disputed decision.

This only sparked Celtic into life. They went full throttle for the equaliser and 90 seconds later Ayorinde delivered it when a long range Ryan Dempsey free landed at his feet. His initial shot was saved, but he tapped the rebound in to level matters again.

Johnny Mee almost put the Mullingar side ahead with a powerful header moments later. Keith Hope also went close with a long range strike, but Darragh O’Connell also missed a golden chance for Moydow and inevitably the 90 minutes finished 2-2 and extra time.

Tired bodies were evident everywhere at this stage and it was anyone’s game. Clarke pounced for Moydow’s third three minutes into extra time after a poorly defended corner, and despite a half chance from Keelan, Celtic were now on the back foot again at the end of the first period of extra time.

It was all out attack from the greens as they went in search of the leveller. Sub Glenn Coffey was just inches away and Mee hit the post, but Moydow had the last say when a superb volley from Darragh O’Connell flew to the net past Matthews to seal the win for the Longford side after a thoroughly entertaining game.

Scorers

Mullingar Celtic: Fola Ayorinde 2

Moydow: Darragh Doherty, Eimhin Clarke 2 (1 pen) and Darragh O’Connell

Teams

Mullingar Celtic: Rory Matthews, Johnny Mee, Cian Farrell, Colm Baker, Joe Doyle, Gearoid Sheridan, Mark Hickey, Keith Hope, Fola Ayorinde, Ian Keelan and Ryan Dempsey Subs: Darren Aughey for Hickey 43 mins(inj), Dean Scully for Sheridan 82 mins, Rory Daly for Dempsey 89 mins, Glenn Coffey for Aughey and Dylan Cannon for Doyle H/T Extra time.

Moydow: Brian Carr, Joe Dempsey, David McNamee, Keelan Boyle, Cillian Glacken, Shane O’Connor, Darragh Doherty, Robert O’Connell, Eimhin Clarke, Aaron McTiernan and Darragh O’Connell.

Referee: Ray Conlon.

Player of the Match

Johnny Mee gets the nod for the home side for an all-round solid display.