Mullingar U21s win Harry Gale top of Harry Gale league

Mullingar RFC have finished on top of the Harry Gale League and have been rewarded with a home semi-final in the Cup on February 21. Mullingar started the day on 22 points in the league equal on top with Tullamore so it was a definite winner takes all situation and Mullingar took all.This win was not easy earned though as Tullamore came with a huge pack with a front row as big as the Italian team that took to the field in Croke Park the day before. But again the front row of Colin Mc Cormack, Gregg Berry and Mark Reilly seem to laugh at the biggest opposition and to date have never took a backward step. This is helped by the fact that in the second row they have the strong and willing John Hughes and Robert Bourke who also stood up to their opposition all day.In the back row Dan Kenny, Adam Karroum and the man of the match Daragh Daly were all over the pitch tackling there big opposition and putting them to ground every time. Daly in particular excelled today and what is most surprising is he was on a bit of a party all weekend after winning the under 21 Westmeath championship with shamrocks on Friday night (well done to all the shamrock lads and especially Daragh). At scrum half David Butler our captain distributed the ball very well to our superb backline who made ground with every pass and always looked dangerous. At outhalf Alan Brabazon has been outstanding all year and rarely I mean very rarely puts a foot wrong. His kicking passing carrying running and tackling are all first class and Alan has a major future in rugby ahead of him and we are proud to have him as a member of Mullingar RFC. In The centre Stuart Flynn and Patrick Simpkin seem to be gelling so well and it's starting to show and we know it's going to get better in the next few weeks. On the wings James Neale and Kevin Pyke never put a foot wrong and never miss their first up tackles and are busy chasing and covering. At full back Gareth Flowers was really safe today and returned everything thrown at him with interest. We are luck as a squad to have a squad that any player on the bench can make a difference and that is what they did this day with Damien Moran, Connor Murphy, Robert Allen, Stephen Woods, Eoghan Mc Cormack, Blaine Healy and Sean Gunne were all used and all with great effect and that makes such a huge difference taken into effect that rugby now is a 22 man game not 15 man game except of course in the towns cup which we won't go into.The game itself was a game of kicking with both teams bee cautious at first and with 2 penalties each after 15 minutes it looked like it was going to be the team that gave away the least penalties that would win the game but in fact it turned out it was the team who actually tried to move the ball wide that would win. Mullingar took up that mantel and started winning quality ball on the ground and in rucks and it was this good ball that our backs started getting a few moves and with that made ground and got 2 more penalties before half time which Stuart Flynn our excellent Goal kicker put straight through the posts to leave the score 12 points to 6 at half time and although the score was close Mullingar were always the stronger.In the second half Mullingar got off to a flyer with a purely magical take in the air from a kick off by Daragh Daly who made 20 yards with a catch and drive and had to be taken down with a illegal tackle to earn Mullingar another Penalty and another 3 points from the impeccable boot of Stuart Flynn.Unfortunately like a lot of other times this year after we score we are vulnerable from the re start and again that Achilles heel came to haunt us with a dropped pass and a giveaway penalty straight away which was duly converted by Tullamore to leave the score 15 points to 9.Then a bad injury to Mark Reilly Mullingar's Tight head prop who suffered an injury to his neck and the game was stopped for 10 minutes while the ambulance attended to him. The sight of one of their warriors going off in an ambulance seemed to spur Mullingar on and when the referee re started the game Mullingar got back up into the Tullamore half through fantastic Counter Rucking. At this stage John Hughes decided to boss all the rucks hitting them at such pace and ferocity that he drove straight over 2 of Tullamores balls and with quick ball out the backs Patrick simpkin went in under the posts for a fantastic team try. And with the 2 points added by Flynn the score was 22 points to 9 with 10 minutes remaining it appeared Mullingar would hold out.But Tullamore had other ideas and began to run every ball one after the other bashing at the Mullingar forwards making ground nearly every time but these lads who have been well coached in how to take the big men down used all they were taught and nailed there opposition every time and in fact it was from this clever play they got another penalty to leave the score 25 points to 9 and a very well deserved victory for Mullingar who were only beaten once this season and that was in there first game of the season.A lot is expected of these young men who will play a home game against the winners of De la Salle and Wanders next Sunday week the 21st of February in Mullingar. It's a credit to the lads there mentors the club and all responsible for putting this team that they topped the group considering all these lads are under age for 21s again next year and the fact that we have been unable to field and under 21s team in a number of years so coming back into the Gael cup and winning the group on the first attempt is truly amazing. Well done lads well done coaches and as we keep saying each week the future looks bright in Mullingar RFC.Now next weekend the 21s have a week off but we will be training Friday night and Sunday afternoon and the following week on Tuesday and Friday.Just a quick message to congratulate Alan Kenna our second's captain and his partner Emma on the birth of their young son, Jack.Team: Alan Brabazon, Colin McCormack, Eoghan McCormack, John Hughes, Sean Gunne, Philip Butler, Stephen Woods. Blaine Healy, Daragh Daly, Robert Allen, Damien Moran, Gregg Berry, James Neale, Kevin Pyke, Conor Murphy, Stuart Flynn, David Butler, Dan Kenny, Adam Kerroum, Patrick Simpkin, Robert Bourke, Mark Reilly, Ethan Connolly, Gareth Flowers.