Five-star Mullingar in total control against Moate men
In Gainstown on Sunday morning last, Mullingar Celtic got their indifferent season back on track with this thumping of Westmeath rivals Moate in what was a very dominant display from start to finish.
In truth, Mullingar had the ball in the Moate net eight times, with three being ruled out for dubious offside decisions and several more chances that could have been converted. Mullingar were in control virtually from the off and, indeed, but for some calamitous defending at times, they really were streets ahead of their opponents for the most part. Their dominance at the back, tenacity and guile in midfield and a cutting edge up front were all factors. Moate were lacking these qualities.
Mullingar struggled to put them away, and but for some excellent cameos from their subs, this game could have been much tighter. That being said, Mullingar got the result they deserved in the end in what was a very open and entertaining game. From the start, Mullingar went for the jugular, and in the opening exchanges they piled on the pressure, with Mark Eivers, Efe Siode and Ryan Dempsey causing mayhem up front in particular. After the former had headed just wide, he was the crosser for a super headed goal from Siode after 10 minutes that was reward for the early pressure. Dylan Nulty had a half chance for Moate but blazed over, but Mullingar upped the ante again, with Tye Adamson going close and Dempsey unlucky with a long-range effort.
The pressure was beginning to tell, however and on 23 minutes Mullingar doubled their lead when Eivers made another superb run and cross, and Adamson slotted in for a composed and well-taken goal that they merited for their superiority.
Amazingly, though, after dominating proceedings heretofore, Mullingar began to rest on their laurels, and Moate began to fight back, with Nicky Hamm, Adam Dolan and Sam Fannin going close and a goal disallowed for offside. They were rewarded, though, when Conor Sheridan pounced on a total lapse of concentration from the Mullingar defence to tap in and bring his side right back into it.
Celtic stuttered momentarily, but just on the stroke of half-time, Adamson's corner was met brilliantly by Colm Baker, whose shot rifled to the back of the net for a wonderful goal, and Mullingar led 3-1 at the interval. After the break, it was more of the same as Mullingar kept up the pressure and looked far more assured at the back, with Baker, Liam English and especially Brandon Duggan locking up their defence.
But they could not get that killer touch to some super play, with Eivers, Baker and Darren Aughey spurning chances and Siode netting only to be ruled offside on two occasions.
The game was becoming a little disjointed as both sides emptied their benches, and the game looked to be just meandering along. Mullingar’s subs, though, looked eager, and Tristan Graham saw a fine effort come off the crossbar, Joe Doyle just pulling his effort wide of the left post, and sub Pauric McComb very unlucky to miss the target after a weaving solo run that deserved a goal.
But they were not done yet, and on 86 minutes Graham made it 4-1 when Aughey slipped him through and he casually lobbed the keeper to put the game beyond any doubt.
He repeated the feat three minutes later, only to see the ball stall before McComb tapped number five into an empty net and almost had a second before the final whistle, only to be denied by a late offside call. Mullingar, though, had won as they wished at this stage, as Moate began to look leggy, and the result showed clearly the difference between the sides.
Scorers - Mullingar Celtic: Efe Siode, Tye Adamson, Mark Eivers, Tristan Graham and Pauric McComb.
Moate Celtic: Conor Sheridan.
Mullingar Celtic: Bernard Glynn, David Coyne, Brandon Duggan, Liam English, Colm Baker, Joe Doyle, Mark Eivers, Darren Aughey, Efe Siode, Tye Adamson and Ryan Dempsey. Subs: Mark Hickey for Eivers (56 mins), Tristan Graham for Dempsey (58 mins), Conor Matthews for English and David McNamee for Doyle (70 mins), Pauric McComb for Adamson (78 mins).
Moate Celtic: Gary Kelly, Ciaran Fennell, Sean Waters, Nicky Hamm, Rowan Rossiter, Reece Jones, Conor Sheridan, Callum Jones, Dylan Nulty, Adam Dolan and Sam Fannin. Subs: Kyle Allen for Rossiter and Roan Sweeney for Sheridan (70 mins), Jack Kelly for Fennell (78 mins).
Referee: Ross Cole.