Leinster League Div 2A

Shay Murtagh Park

Mullingar J1 XV 12

Clondalkin J1 XV 27

By Mick Lambe

Despite the 13 pointsdifference in the scores, Clondalkin can consider themselves fortunate to have come away from Mullingar with such a wide margin. Mullingar put in a very sterling performance and didn’t seem to get any rub of the green today. Mullingar started well with some early territory and pressure, which the visitors withstood.  However it was Clondalkin who scored first in the 5th minute with a penalty when a Mullingar player went offside on our own 22m line. Mullingar fought back up in to the Clondalkin half and in the 17^th minute were awarded a penalty just a metre inside the Clondalkin half. Ronan Wallace duly obliged to make it 3-3. Mullingar’sf orwards were making progress and the home side went ahead five minutes later after another penalty by Ronan made it 6-3 this time from about 43 metres. A battle royal was on and Clondalkin, the present early leaders in the league hit back in the 29^th minute with a try which was converted from near the touchline to putt hem 6-10 up. The home side were not going to lie down and again attacked the Clondalkin line with the centre combination of Ronan Wallace and Alan Brabazon combining well and Anto McGivney makings ome darting runs from full back. A number of picks and drives from Mullingar resulted in a tackle by Clondalkin about 5 metres in front of their posts. The Clondalkin player then played the ball on the ground to prevent a Mullingar try and a penalty in front of the posts brought the game to 9-10. Probably in 99.5% of games when this happens, the offending player gets a 10 minute rest, but not today.Just before half time some Clondalkin pressure saw one of their players get over the line but a good tackle from Daz Brady assisted by Jamie Fitzgerald and the ball was held up. Half time and its 9-10 and everything to play for yet. 

Mullingar started brightly in the 2^ndhalf with Eoghan Moore getting up to contest the kick off and Mullingar putting pressure on Clondalkin. Mullingar were awarded a penalty about 5 minutes in but the ball just shaved the post, an unfortunate miss as Clondalkin were to convert a penalty of their own in the 45^th minute to go 9-13 up. Daz Brady, Alex Mitic and Ben Glennon were putting in some great work in the scrums and around the field and with Daryl Quinn and Man of the match Killian McNay putting in a lot of hard work behind them and linking up with the back line was the darting Sean Rock. Around the 55^th minute another Mullingar attack looked like resulting in a try for outhalf TC Campbell, however he was tackled without the ball. Mullingar Were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, but decided to run it and unfortunately no score resulted. Again in this writer`s opinion the Clondalkin player was lucky not to go for a 10 minute rest. The game was now heading for the last 10 minutes and Clondalkin were to stretch their lead to 9-20 after a good line break, with one of their forwards finishing the move. Mullingar pressed again into the Clondalkin 22 and while attempting a break in the centre, Alan Brabazon received an illegal hit by a Clondalkin player and had to be replaced. Ronan Wallace kicked the resulting penalty to put the score at Mullingar 12 Clondalkin 20. Shortly after Alan leaving the field,his big brother Arthur, who was having a very solid game on the wing,left for a 10 minute break, followed by a Clondalkin player. What had originally been a penalty against Mullingar was reversed by th ereferee because of the reaction of the Clondalkin player, but Mullingar failed to get any bonus from the resulting lineout. The fact that Mullingar failed to get anything from this game does not negate that the actual performance today was probably the best effort and work rate of the season so far, especially by the back row of Darach Geraghty, Cormac Dunne and Johnny Moran. All of the substitutes Kevin Smith, Edward Nally, Killian Kavanagh, Kyle Smyth and Jamie Fitzgerald made an impact when coming on and Jamie unfortunately went off injured with about 10 minutes left. Hopefully Jamie`s injury won`t keep him out too long, as he had put in a number of good tackles in his time on the field. This week`s Man of the Match award went to Killian McNay and was presented by Declan Murphy from The Fence who were the  sponsors of this week`s award.

Leinster League Div 2A

Shay Murtagh Park

Mullingar J2 XV 05

Clondalkin J2 XV 44

A tough day at the coalface for the seconds, with a number of last week`s players moving to the firsts and a few injuries leaving a depleted side to take on the league leaders, who are top of both the 2A First and Seconds leagues.

Next Sunday October 21^st, fixtures at Shay Murtagh Park are;

Leinster Women`s League Div 2 Mullingar Vs Gorey KO 13.00

Leinster League Div 2A Seconds Mullingar Vs Newbridge KO 13.30

Leinster League Div 2A Firsts  Mullingar Vs Newbridge KO 15.00