Leinster League

Saturday 9th December 2018

Shay Murtagh Park

Mullingar 37

Athy 34

By Pat Carton

A second half loss of focus almost cost the U18’s the points in this exciting and high scoring game in Shay Murtagh Park on Saturday morning last. Mullingar started very well with Cian Cleary controlling matters from out half, the line speed was excellent from Mullingar giving the Athy lads little time and space. Sean Casey made a great steal from an Athy ruck before the outstanding Adam Traynor broke through the centre to touch down under the posts in the sixth minute. Traynor playing at scrum half brought urgency and sharpness to our play, Cleary made the conversion. Two minutes later another exquisite pass from Traynor released Stephen Derham who finished with flair. Mullingar looked to be cruising to the points, Conall Fagan off loaded to Sean Casey two minutes later,his out the back pass found Paddy Doran who finished in the corner and Matthew Looram also crossed the whitewash after a good claim from Matthew Doyle on half way.  Athy responded on twenty minutes with a converted try after a dropped pass in the centre. Man of the match Paddy Doran who had just returned to the fray following a bloodied nose went on a mazy run through the Athy defence sucking in four defenders before releasing Peter Mitic into the outside space to score in the corner. Stephen Derham was in fine form and a contender for man of the match his defensive play and tackling again was exceptional all afternoon as was James Kerrigan who had a good game at twelve. 

We lost our scrum half to the U 17’s at the interval and this effected our rhythm but was no excuse for the dereliction of the game plan and the absence of any line speed in the half. Athy crossed twice for full points before Nathan Gallagher pounced on a loose ball and made a great match winning carry to the Athy 22 releasing Cleary to steady the ship with a try which was our final score of the game.The opposition threw the kitchen sink at us for the following twenty minutes and had pegged us back to just three points, Mark Flynn, Sean Casey and Conall Fagan were very prominent in the final quarter with man of the match Doran carrying the great effect, when things had gone pear shaped. A nail biting finish ended well when Nathan Gallagher turned over opposition ball in dangerous penalty kick territory to seal the points.

Scorers; Tries; Adam Traynor, Cian Cleary, Stephen Derham, Paddy Doran, Matthew Looram, PeterMitic.

Conversions; Cian Cleary

Pens;

Team; Conall Fagan, Matthew Doyle, Sean Casey, Nathan Gallagher, Matthew Looram, Paddy Doran, Adam Traynor, Cian Cleary, James Kerrigan, Peter Mitic, Harry Ripley, Stephen Derham, Mark Flynn.