Mullingar squad, back row from left: Barry Watters, Dylan Tone, Jamie Kindregan, Stuart Waddle, James O’Malley, Oscar Hudley and Andrew Melbourne. Front row from left: Cameron Wiltshire, Stephen O’Neill, Graeme Hague (c), Conor Dunne, Marc Watters, Stephen Wiltshire and Brian Rasmussen.

Four goals for Wiltshire as Mullingar earn crucial win

Leinster Men’s Division 5

Published: Fri 16 Jan 2026, 5:56 PM

Mullingar travelled to Sandymount for a must win game on a cold frosty day, but the weather couldn't spoil the away teams desire to win. Mullingar ended up producing one of the best performances for several years and recorded a 7-0 victory.

There was some crisp quick play from the back and through the midfield in the opening salvos. One of the early forays found Stephen Wiltshire in space and a clinical finish, low and hard to the 'keeper's left, gave the Union stopper no chance.

The press from the midfield and front three was having an impact and Mullingar quickly added their second, a rejuvenated Wiltshire rounding the 'keeper with ease before slotting home. The third came just before the end of the first quarter. Stuart Waddle made a brilliant run from midfield and swept the ball into the bottom corner. The first quarter ended with the midlanders being extremely resilient at the back and there were no real chances created for Railway on their surges forward.

The second quarter was closer, but after some Railway Union pressure, Mullingar broke on a counter and won a short-corner and a Stephen Wiltshire drag flick, which was on target, but deflected off a defender on the line and went high into the net to make it four-nil.

There was unbelievable work rate from Oscar Hudley, James O'Malley, Dylan Tone, Jamie Kindregan, Andy Melbourne and Stuart Waddle across the midfield to make sure the pressure never ceased. Come the break and with Mullingar comfortably four goals to the good, it meant the half-time team talk was relatively straight forward.

Into the third quarter and Railway got a few early chances, but Conor Dunne in the Mullingar goals made four brilliant saves and he was determined to keep that clean sheet. Some great hit outs all game from Barry Watters at the back who kept the ball far from the Mullingar goals, and he managed to set up quick attacks and up the other end several times. Following some great work out wide on the right from Marc Watters and a brilliant ball in by the winger, a chance fell to James O'Malley who showed unbelievable seasoned composure to round the 'keeper and absolutely bury the finish. Another short-corner routine from Wiltshire produced another screamer into the bottom corner for his fourth of the game and Mullingar's sixth.

Into the fourth quarter and Railway kept fighting, but it wasn't their day and Stuart Waddle added his second with another great run into the ‘D’ late on and a calm finish, making it seven and the away side travelled home with loads of smiley faces. It was a crucial win, as for the first time this season the seconds are off the bottom of the league and with Stuttonians at home next week, another win will see Mullingar leapfrog them and start aiming for mid-table status.

Scorers: James O'Malley, Stephen Wiltshire (4), Stuart Waddle (2).

Mullingar squad: Conor Dunne, Graeme Hague (c), Dylan Tone, Jamie Kindregan, Marc Watters, Barry Watters, Andrew Melbourne, Cameron Wiltshire, Stephen Wiltshire, Stephen O'Neill, Brian Rasmussen, Oscar Hudley, James O'Malley and Stuart Waddle.