LEINSTER LEAGUE

Sunday 22nd September 2019

Togher, Portlaoise

PORTLAOISE  5

MULLINGAR 11

Mullingar came away with a deserved and hard fought away win from Portlaoise to start their Leinster League Division 2A campaign. Much work has been done pre season and a quiet confidence is emerging within the squad from playing to a plan, particularly a well structured defensive pattern. 

With literally sheeting rain throughout, it was never going to be a high scoring contest, but Mullingar did start the brighter and more constructive team. Following good pressure and some trade mark charges from Lemeki Vaipula, the home side conceded a penalty fully 45 yards out and Mitchell Millar slotted the kick home for an early 3 nil lead. Further possession and territorial pressure led to a try for Millar when multiple phases close to the Portlaoise line allowed him to cross for an unconverted try and an 8 nil lead halfway through the first quarter.

It stayed 8 nil throughout the first half, but that was despite both teams applying periods of sustained pressure. Luke Finnegan was winning lineouts well, stealing a couple of Portlaoise throws in the process. The scrums were evenly balanced with Brady, Mitic and Moran holding their own for the full eighty minutes, (usually an area where Portlaoise try to dominate). Handling was not easy in the conditions, so patience and dogged defence were the order of the day. With five minutes to go, Portlaoise had a series of mauls and crossed the Mullingar line, only to be held up. So 8 nil it remained at half time.

The Mullingar half backs had kicked well when necessary, and the Mullingar backline achieved more than the opposition with Daire Conway and Petar Mitic looking dangerous when in possession. Mitchell Millar is a fine addition to the club, with accurate and ambitious passing throughout. Mullingar opted to kick two penalties, the second successfully pushing the lead out to 11 nil halfway through the second half. Dave Faulkner was replaced by Maxwell after a solid contribution and then Stephen Derham, who was solid under the high ball all afternoon, was replaced by the experienced Swanson, with Conway moving to full back. Mullingar held their discipline and defensive structure very well.

Then, with ten minutes to go, the home team started to dominate terrestrially for the first time. Huge pressure was applied up front, and a series of forward thrusts were denied. Maxwell took a team yellow, and Portlaoise tried hard to press their numerical advantage. Eventually with only injury time remaining, they got their reward for the hammering at the Mullingar line, and the score was 11 - 5. Mullingar saw out injury time, offering limited opportunity in a disciplined endgame - and Campbell kicked a penalty out on the full to bring the tension to an end.

The young guns Reidy, Mitic x 2 and Stephen Derham had stood up to the physical challenge very well. Lemeki and Millar offered their own physicality and grace under pressure. McGovern, Lynam, Swanson and particularly Conway were solid in the tackle…. and huge credit should go to the stalwarts of recent seasons, Captain Brady, ex captain Quinn and coach Campbell. A solid start to the campaign in truly awful weather conditions.

Team: Darren Brady (Captain), Aleksa Mitic, Johnny Moran, Daryl Quinn, Dave Faulkner, (Paul Maxwell), Luke Finnegan, Brian Reidy, Lemeki Vaipula, Thomas Campbell, Mitchell Millar, Dave Lynam, Donal McGovern, Daire Conway, Petar Mitic, Stephen Derham (Craig Swanson). Subs: Chris Fox, Kevin Smith, Alan Naughton. 

The seconds also had a good performance despite going down 42 -17 to a better resourced Portlaoise. There are however strong signs of potential for a solid season from all concerned. Special mention to captain on the day, Dan Gilleran, new members Alan Buggy, Alan Naughton and Louis Prati; a senior debut for Mathew Doyle; and a golden oldie outing for our President Tony Doolin. 

Next matches are home v 

 Sunday 29th September 

KO 3pm (2nds XV 1.30pm).