Brave Athletic fall agonisingly short in title decider
CCFL Division 1: Towerhill Rovers 1, Mullingar Athletic 0
A Shane Collins goal early in the second half was enough for Laois outfit Towerhill Rovers to steal the CCFL Division 1 league title out of Mullingar Athletic’s grasp in the final game of the season in Portlaoise Leisure Centre on Sunday morning, writes Barry McEvoy.
Mullingar Athletic went into this last day decider a point ahead of Towerhill in the league, so the Portlaoise side had to go chasing a goal if they were to have any chance of winning the league.
Conditions were rough and there was a strong breeze swirling around the field which helped neither side and both teams took a while to settle in which meant a very cagey start to the game.
Damon Larkin had his hands full for the 90 minutes, but he was up to the task and put in a masterful display at centre back for Towerhill. Mullingar had a couple of chances on 20 minutes, but Larkin denied Ryan McCormack with a block and followed up with an excellent tackle to deny the visitors.
After a slow start to the game things started to open up and Shane Collins registered Towerhill’s first shot on target but it was a tame effort. He soon followed with another shot that dribbled wide.
Towerhill’s period of dominance continued and Collins was again involved by whipping in two excellent corners, but neither Damon Larkin or Jack Fennelly could convert for the hosts.
Eighteen year old Cian Culleton had an excellent game in goals for Towerhill and he was called into action when Ronan Kavanagh had a free header but he dealt with it easily. Moments later he produced a magnificent fingertip save to deny Dano Whelan what looked a certain goal and keep the sides level at half-time.
Towerhill Rovers couldn’t have dreamt of a better start to the second half as Shane Collins finally converted on his fifth attempt at goal and put the home side 1-0 up after 47 minutes. Striker Jo Jo Salmon did well to control a long ball in before finding Dan Dalton out on the wing with an exquisite pass. Dalton showed some great skill to get free before firing in a cross towards Collins in front of goal and he found the net with a deft touch.
The tables had now turned and it was up to Mullingar to go chasing a goal to wrestle the league title back from the hosts and finish the day where they started it, on top of the league. It would prove to be no easy feat however, as Towerhill showed great tenacity and teamwork in their defensive play.
Liam Brennan made his way forward for the remainder of the second half and he looked to be the key that just might unlock the Towerhill defence. He had a shot go just over the bar after the ball rebounded to him from another Larkin block.
Mullingar had the vast majority of possession in the second period but they were struggling to break through the lines of defence. They came close when Seanie Mahon showed great vision to find Brennan just on the corner of the box and Brennan shot but was denied by the far post and Larkin was on the spot to clear for Towerhill.
The visitors again came close when Dano Whelan got on the end of a Brennan cross but he was undone by the same post.
Culleton pulled off a couple more saves in the dying stages of the game as Mullingar threw the kitchen sink at it but they couldn’t get the all elusive equaliser and the CCFL Division 1 trophy stayed in Portlaoise.
Scorer – Towerhill Rovers: S Collins (47).
Towerhill Rovers: Cian Culleton; Mark Brennan, Jack Fennell, Damon Larkin, Leon Lewis; Dan Dalton, Martin Hilliard, Luke O’Brien, Shane Collins; Paddy Downey, Jo Jo Salmon. Subs: Nathan Carpenter for Hilliard (HT), David Leonard for O’Brien (65), Shane Brophy for Jo Jo Salmon (74), Kevin Sesela for Collins (78)
Mullingar Athletic: Eoghan Gorman; Jake Costello, Tristan Graham, Liam Brennan, Ben Treanor; Ryan McCormack, Jamie Archibold, Seanie Mahon, Ryan Norris; Dano Whelan, Ronan Kavanagh. Subs: Nathan McCullagh for Costello (58)
Ref: Leslie Buckley