Kavanagh’s winner lifts Mullingar Athletic off bottom

Mullingar Athletic 4, Monksland Utd 3

By Paul Hughes

Squally showers couldn’t prevent a thriller on the astroturf at Gainstown on Saturday night, as Mullingar Athletic lifted themselves off the foot of the CCFL Senior Division with a merited 4-3 win over Athlone’s Monksland United.

In a game that had everything bar dry weather, Brian Kavanagh headed home the odd goal in seven to secure the points for the home side, who prevailed despite surrendering their lead on two occasions and fighting an uphill battle against some of the refereeing decisions on the night.

Athletic had the lion’s share of possession and opportunities, with mid-tablers Monksland largely dependent on set pieces to generate chances. Coming up to half time, the hosts were as comfortable as you could be while leading 1-0 but they conceded shortly before the interval after a defensive error.

Having regrouped, Mullingar raced into a 3-1 lead with two superb goals from Keith Hope and Emmett Brennan, but going into the last quarter Monksland enjoyed a rare purple patch and levelled matters when Michael Harrington netted twice in quick succession. Kavanagh’s winner, 14 minutes from time, was the least Athletic deserved.

Robbie O’Dowd’s charges, pressing Monksland from the get-go, took the lead after 11 minutes when Darragh Kiernan pinged the ball down the left flank. An unmarked Nathan Scally collected, dribbled at speed and beat netminder Niall Ward with a low finish.

Two minutes later, the hosts nearly made it two when Tadgh Nolan grazed the crossbar with a half-volley, teed up by Jordan Scally. As the misty rain became more dense, Athletic upped the ante, with Ben Shaw and Jamie Loran testing Ward with low-trajectory shots.

The hosts had a couple of penalty claims either side of the half-hour mark when Nathan Scally and Jamie Loran claimed to be impeded by Monksland’s TJ Ishola, but they were waved away by referee Ray Conlon; at the other end, centre-back Emmett Brennan was booked for a slide tackle on Michael Harrington.

Athletic went close to doubling their lead on 34 minutes when the evergreen Darragh Kiernan squared for the inrushing Nathan Scally, who slid in to meet the ball but poked it just wide.

Scally then picked up a yellow card after a slide tackle on Ishola, before Brian Kavanagh narrowly missed with a back-post header from a corner.

With half time approaching, it was all Athletic, but on the stroke of 45 minutes centre-half Oisín Tyrrell – who hadn’t put a foot wrong thus far – was caught out by both a bobbling through-ball and Monksland’s high press. Ryan O’Connor dispossessed him before rounding Trevor Martin and slotting home the equaliser.

Normal service resumed after the interval, and Jordan Scally shot just over the bar on 47 minutes after a swift Athletic attack.

As the hosts kept finding gaps, they regained the lead on 50 minutes when Darragh Kiernan curved an inch-perfect cross into the path of Keith Hope, who made no mistake with a difficult finish from close range.

That lead became 3-1 on 53 minutes when, in a sequence untypical for a centre-half, the intrepid Emmett Brennan sold a dummy and then buried a left-footed shot from the edge of the area. Monksland ‘keeper Niall Ward got his fingertips to it but the pace of the ball did the damage.

With the visitors unable to get a look in, Athletic should have added to their lead in the next quarter-hour, with Jordan Scally and Darragh Kiernan going close.

A two-goal lead being the worst kind of lead is an old football adage, but it rang true on 70 minutes, when Athletic’s dominance was suddenly called into question by a close-range finish from Monksland’s Michael Harrington.

Harrington duly levelled matters two minutes later when he connected with an inswinging corner, rattling the roof of the net with a powerful header.

Despite this setback, Athletic didn’t panic, and it only took four minutes for them to regain the lead via a corner at the other end. Darragh Kiernan struck the set piece and midfielder Brian Kavanagh rose highest to head home for 4-3.

Monksland went in search of another equaliser, with a shot from Callum O’Brien saved after 80 minutes before Ryan O’Connor unsuccessfully called for a penalty moments later.

At the other end, Athletic might have wrapped up the win but the inrushing Tadgh Nolan was controversially adjudged offside, much to the justifiable chagrin of Nolan and the home support.

Then, with 86 minutes gone, O’Connor almost got through again for the Shannonsiders but Trevor Martin was alert to the danger and intervened.

Athletic, pound for pound the better side despite being without their suspended skipper Liam Brennan, held on for their second league win in a row.

Scorers - Mullingar Athletic 4 (N Scally 11, K Hope 50, E Brennan 53, B Kavanagh 76), Monksland United 3 (R O’Connor 45, M Harrington 70, 72).

Mullingar Athletic: Trevor Martin; Jamie Loran, Darragh Kiernan, Oisín Tyrrell, Emmett Brennan, Brian Kavanagh, Ben Shaw, Nathan Scally, Jordan Scally, Tadgh Nolan, Keith Hope. Subs used: Juraj Zachej for Tyrrell (87), Dorian McDonald for J Scally (87).

Monksland United: Niall Ward; Aaron Meares, TJ Ishola, Kevin Gaylard, Shane Pettit, Sean Ryan, Michael Harrington, Alan Freeburne, Callum O’Brien, Ryan O’Connor, Cathal Callinan. Subs used: Cormac Moore for Freeburne (72), Mark Greene for Ishola (81).

Referee: Ray Conlon.