Sunday 12th April 2015

Mullingar Gale Cup victory in Gorey

Gorey RFC  27   Mullingar  28

 A spectacular ending saw a Ronan Wallace block down of a conversion under the posts as the last kick of a dramatic and hard fought quarter final away to Gorey. This was a brave performance by 17 young men led by Niall Hannon with a David O’Reilly hat trick of tries, impeccable kicking from Wallace and a thundering defensive last quarter. Mullingar came away victorious despite conceding five tries because they simply wanted it more and now can prepare to host a home semi final to Tullow next Sunday in Shay Murtagh Park.

 With memories of last years Gale Cup final, decided in extra time in Mullingars favour, both teams knew this was going to be a big game from the off.  Gorey had the initial possession but solid defence yielded a penalty when Gorey went off their feet and Wallace converted the penalty from a good distance to put Mullingar ahead on five minutes. Gorey had a similar opportunity after 15 minutes, but missed. Then Mullingar had a period of sustained pressure with Kavanagh winning good lineouts and getting into Goreys 22 for the first time on 25 minutes. Hannon won a lineout and David O’Reilly barged over from five yards in the left corner off the back of an excellent maul. Wallace narrowly missed the conversion, so it was 8 nil to Mullingar.

 Gorey responded immediately and following a number of phases, they broke down the left wing and had more support than defenders to cross for a try that was converted to narrow the lead to the minimum after 25 minutes. Good tackling from Alan O’Donoghue at last man twice halted Gorey. Mullingar then won a penalty when Gorey played the ball on the ground and Wallace again obliged to stretch the lead to 11 – 7.  Then Mullingar had their turn and again attacked into the Gorey 22, with first Wallace breaking on the right, then Hannon carrying forward to 5 metres, until Gorey killed the ball for a penalty on the 5 metres. David O’Reilly tapped to himself and drove over with great strength for a timely try, which Wallace converted superbly to put Mullingar 18-7 up at the break.

 The second half started with Mullingar putting Gorey deep into their own half. The game had become very physical with Smith, Nally and Mills hitting everything that moved ahead and solid defence from McGuinness and McDonagh. Gorey were penalised for some verbal indiscipline to the referee allowing Wallace to slot another penalty stretching Mullingars lead to 21 7. But Gorey were gaining dominance, able to rotate a full bench and bring on fresh legs. However, they were closed down by Ennis and Coade when they ran wide and the defence in close was superb with countless Brabazon tackles.

 Then 12 minutes into the second half, sustained pressure after good ground was made by Gorey, resulted in a try out wide, the conversion was missed. Gorey won the kick off and barged down the pitch with an excellent maul and sustained attacks from around the fringes and through the middle. They again breached the line for the second time in minutes despite a number of brave tackles to bring the score to 21-17 but the conversion was missed from a good central position. Half way through the second half, Mullingar had a penalty which was narrowly missed, but Gorey were gaining confidence and momentum. Ennis was down injured and McGuinness was replaced by Cunningham. Brazil came on for the injured McDonough.

 Then Mullingar created the score 30 minutes into the second half that won the game. A high kick was fielded by Shane Raleigh around half way. He made good ground then chipped ahead to force the Gorey defence to run the ball into touch just 5 metres out. Mullingar had their chance and won the lineout through Kavanagh, with David O’Reilly taking the ball at the back of a well set maul and then for the third time, he hammered over the line in the right corner for a score that clearly lifted Mullingar. Wallace struck the kick beautifully and now Mullingar were 28 17 ahead with ten minutes to go.

 What a ten minutes. Gorey raised their game. Countless tackles and hard hits were needed to stem the multi phase game that Gorey now had to play. Twice Mullingar were penalised, and Gorey missed touch, firstly through a bad kick and secondly when Potterton stretched from just inside the touchline to tap it back over the Mullingar try line for Wallace to clear. Then Cunningham went down in stretching for a tackle and the injured McDonough returned. Despite superb defence from Hannon, Brazil, Nally and Smith, Gorey got to the line and scored on the left with the home crowd now sensing the tide was with Gorey. However, 6 points behind and time nearly up, Gorey attempted a drop kick conversion which was horribly wide.

 From the kick off, Gorey gathered the ball and drove it forward for phase after phase. Mullingar were penalised, and conceded an additional ten yards for not retreating. Then deep in injury, Gorey barged over under the posts despite exhausted Mullingar last ditch tackles. 28 27 to Mullingar and a conversion under the posts to come. Coade, Wallace and Raleigh sprinted off the line as the Gorey kicker began his approach, and Wallace got the important block, to end a superb contest in Mullingars favour. A great but well deserved victory which is never easy away to Gorey.

 Team: 1. Edward Nally, 2. Kevin Smith, 3. Ciaran McGuinness, 4. Joe McDonagh, 5. Cilian Kavanagh, 6. Jack Mills, 7. David O’Reilly, 8. Niall Hannon (Capt), 9. Arthur Brabazon, 10. Ronan Wallace, 11. Gregor Potterton, 12. Sean Ennis, 13. Andrew Coade, 14. Shane Raleigh, 15. Alan O’Donoghue. Subs: Shane Cunningham (50), Shane Brazil (60).

Coaches: Anthony Doolin, Sean Og Brennan, Eoghan Gantley.

Scores;  David O’Reilly 3 Tries, Ronan Wallace 3 Penalties, 2 conversions.