Nolan denied in agonising defeat for Mullingar Athletic

Paddy Cotter Cup final: Clara Town 1, Mullingar Athletic 0

By John Dingle

A fantastic strike from Cormac Delaney in stoppage time helped Clara Town to beat Mullingar Athletic in the Paddy Cotter Cup final at Leah Victoria Park in Tullamore last Saturday evening.

The game looked to be heading to extra-time as two evenly matched teams cancelled one another out but a moment of brilliance from Delaney meant the cup was staying in Offaly rather than going back to Westmeath. It ensured Clara would end the season with some silverware while Athletic will have another chance to taste success in knockout competition when they complete their campaign in the Counties Cup final.

Neither team had set the world alight in the Senior Division but had kept their best form for knockout fare. Mullingar were playing in the first of two cup finals as they brushed off League form that sees them rooted to the foot of the table. Clara had also finished their League campaign in the lower half of the table but had beaten the holders St Peters in the semi-final of the Cotter Cup. There was little between the teams throughout reflecting the League battles which had seen honours even. Mullingar though had the edge having knocked Clara out of the Counties Cup at the quarter final stage.

Two early corner kicks had Mullingar on the offensive while Clara’s first chance saw Isaac Ryan fire over from the right. Ryan and Nathan Scally for Mullingar provided the excitement down the wing. Tadgh Nolan had a shot saved for Mullingar but Clara could easily have opened the scoring moments later but Liam Fitzpatrick’s shot was put behind for the first corner kick of the final. Athletic recovered with Nolan firing over from the right and another corner following.

The Offaly outfit though were creating the clearer chances and had a further opportunity to take the lead midway through the half. Cody Fitzpatrick shot off the Athletic keeper and behind for a corner with another soon following. Mullingar’s Oisin Tyrrell then had a shot saved and their best chance to date came on the half hour mark. Scally took aim but saw his shot blocked by Clara goalkeeper James McKenna.

It all but completed the action in the opening half with corners at either end capably dealt with by the respective defences. In between, Ben Shaw and Scally were both off target for Athletic as the first half remained scoreless.

The second half continued in a similar fashion as a cautious contest unfolded. There was just one further clear-cut chance until the late drama which saw Clara lift the cup in sensational manner. Mullingar forced an early corner with Emmett Brennan having a shot saved. Clara responded with a corner from which Dylan Deehan Kavanagh came close with a header. Athletic earned two more corners up to the hour mark and looked set to open the scoring after 63 minutes. Nolan took aim but McKenna instinctively stuck out a leg to divert the shot away from goal.

It was as close as we came to a winner in the normal time of the second half. Extra-time was looming large as the half progressed. David Minnock tried to unhinge the Mullingar rear-guard with a good run from midfield which ending with his shot being saved. Clara then forced another corner to be followed by Mullingar earning two of their own in response.

The latter stages of the half was a stop start affair and when Clara substitute Tadgh Maher headed over from another corner with three minutes remaining it ended the action in normal time. It appeared that extra-time and even penalty kicks might be needed to decide the destiny of the cup but Clara struck a fatal blow to Mullingar’s hopes of a possible double in knockout competitions. The game was in the first additional minute when the deadlock was finally broken. Clara were on the attack but there looked to be little danger as Delaney advanced in possession. There was an option to play the ball out to the right but the Town number ten decided to take matters into his own hands with devastating effect.

A fabulous strike from outside the penalty area gave Craig Sweeney no chance of saving as the ball flew into the roof of the net. It was a score worthy of winning any cup final and a contender for goal of the season. Clara might have wrapped up the tie moments later but had a goal disallowed while Mullingar had one more opportunity to try and force extra time. Liam Brennan had the last chance of the game but Clara held firm and were soon celebrating after the stoppage time period had stretched to seven tension packed minutes.

The trophy was presented to Clara captain Patrick Smith by CCFL treasurer Barry Hennessy while Mullingar will have another chance to end their campaign on a high when the Counties Cup decider will draw the campaign to a close.

CLARA TOWN: James McKenna, Victor Gonzalez, Pa Smith, Isaac Ryan, Davy Minnock, Liam Fitzpatrick, Dylan Deehan Kavanagh, Cormac Delaney, Adam Kelly, Neil Robbins, Cody Fitzpatrick. Subs: Tadgh Maher for C Fitzpatrick (71m); Dylan Dunne for Deehan Kavanagh (92); Ronan Touhey for L Fitzpatrick (94).

MULLINGAR ATHLETIC: Craig Sweeney, Oisin Tyrrell, Emmett Brennan, Tadgh Nolan, Jamie Loran, Liam Brennan, Ben Treanor, Brian Kavanagh, Keith Hope, Nathan Scally, Ben Shaw. Subs: Jordan Scally for Tyrrell (61m); Mohamed Mugtabe for Treanor (71); Juraj Zachej for Hope (81).

REFEREE: Kevin Jones (Longford).