Mullingar Hockey secure win over Naas

Mullingar 1st’s 2

Naas 1st’s 1

Last Saturday, the Mullingar Men’s 1s hosted Naas 1’s in a league match in Wilsons Hospital. Naas managed to do the double over Mullingar last year so revenge was on the cards for Mullingar.

Mullingar started brightly and were in full attack mode from the off. The first goal of the game came at the end of the first quarter after Mullingar won themselves a short-corner. Stephen Wiltshire saw his drag flick saved but Stuart Waddell was the quickest to react and converted the rebound, with a smart diving effort.

Mullingar’s lead did not last long. Straight from the second quarter tip-off Mullingar lost the ball and Naas counterattacked and punished Mullingar’s mistake by levelling the game. Mullingar responded well and were starting to create most of the chances, but just were not clinical enough in front of goal.

The third quarter saw Mullingar dominate the game, attack after attack but just couldn’t convert their chances. Naas had a small handful of scoring opportunities, but the Mullingar goalie, Conor Mount managed to keep them at bay making sure that Mullingar went into the final quarter level.

The last quarter saw Mullingar throw everything at Naas in search of that winning goal.

Mullingar hard work eventually paid off when Mullingar got their second goal through Stephen Wiltshire after he converted a Mullingar short-corner with a drag flick to the bottom left corner. Naas did have an opportunity to level the game with a minute left, after they won a short-corner but the Mullingar rearguard stood tall and kept them out to confirm their second win of the season.

Player of the Match; Aidan Hopkins

Scorers: Stephen Wiltshire, Stuart Waddell

Mullingar squad: Rob Ashley, Stuart Waddell, Stephen Wiltshire, Conor Mount, Aidan Hopkins, Cameron Wiltshire, Tom Bowers, Barry Watters, Ronan O’Neill, Marc Watters, Declan Ashley, Owen Wiltshire and Tom Fay.

Leinster Ladies Division 9

Loreto 6th’s 3

Mullingar 1st’s 0

On Saturday, September 27 the Mullingar travelled up to Rathfarnham to play the Loreto 6th’s ladies. With mixed results from previous seasons Mullingar knew they would have to put up a strong fight. With miserable conditions this did not stop the away side from togging out a full panel of sixteen players.

The game started strong with Mullingar showing Loreto what they were capable of, they held possession well and Emma Harding carried the ball into the ‘D’ on several occasions, but Mullingar were met by a Loreto sweeper system, that was not going to make their job easy at all. As the game progressed Mullingar struggled to get in through the Loreto plays, as they moved up the field. Mullingar sweeper Maria Baker helped them out and kept the ball from coming in near keeper Aine Kane.

Coming into the second quarter Mullingar were putting together some lovely passing play. Racheal Goldsbury and Melissa O’Neill worked beautifully together as they brought the ball up the right-hand side of the pitch, all efforts were made to reach Katelyn Griffith who was in the D ready to deflect, but Loreto had other ideas. They took back possession and very quickly made their way up and much to Mullingar disappointment made the scoreline 1-0 to finish off the second quarter.

Coming on for the second half Mullingar were determined despite the rain beating down, with a few changes made to the team they were ready once again. The Mullingar side were met with a concession of 4 short-corners in a row, all of which Aine Kane kept out. Unfortunately, due to a foot foul, Aine Kane now faced a penalty stroke, the Loreto player put it in the top corner to make the scoreline now 2-0. The 4th quarter saw Mullingar find their determination once again and Eleanor Mulligan found space on the ball and did fantastic work alongside Ruby Murray and Emma Harding to bring the ball back up in the 25’, a few unlucky off target shots left Mullingar longing for that goal. The backs had their work cut out for them, as Mullingar, Loreto were looking for another goal, despite Maria Baker and Eileen Conaty's best efforts the Loretto side won a short-corner which they converted and then left the scoreline 3-0. A disappointing loss for the Mullingar side, but many positives to take from the game and plenty to go back and work on.

Player of the match: Maria Baker.

Mullingar squad: Aine Kane, Raimey O’Boyle, Maria Baker, Rebecca O’Keefe, Eileen Conaty, Claudette Jenner, Emma Harding, Sarah Kernaghan, Rachael Goldsbury, Eleanor Mulligan, Melissa O’Neill, Katelyn Griffith (C), Judi Roulston Mooney, Claire Kelly, Zara Allen and Ruby Murray

Upcoming fixtures:

All games Saturday the 27th

Men’s 1’s versus Suttonians away @ 11am

Ladies vs Boyne is home @ 2:30pm

Men’s 2nd’s vs Bray 3rd’s is away @ 4:30pm

Training Details:

Senior Men, Tuesday @ 19:20

Senior Ladies, Thursday @ 19:20

Under 14 Girls, Thursday @ 19:00

Boys & Girls, Under 8, 10 & 12’s Sunday @ 11am

All training in Wilsons Hospital School