Colm Baker (Mullingar Celtic), referee Damien McCormack and James Gallagher (Walsh Island Shamrocks) at last Sunday’s CCFL match.

Walsh Island men triumph in tough weather conditions

Mullingar Celtic 0 Walsh Island Shamrocks 3

Storm Eowyn had passed but in Gainstown last Sunday morning a gale-force wind, thundering hail and heavy rainfall proved a major challenge, so much so that it was a miracle that this CCFL Division 1 game went ahead.

In terms of the football itself, it was a case of Walsh Island Shamrocks being in complete control against Mullingar Celtic for the vast majority of the contest, bar a penalty scare with just over 20 minutes remaining.

The script was written early, as Walsh Island flew into an early advantage after just five minutes on the clock. John Doyle had an opportunity at goal from range two minutes prior, showing great skill to get his shot off from range as the ball flew wide.

The opening goal also came from a shot from distance, with Aaron McCourt's effort nestling low into the left hand corner.

The Walsh Island backline was sniffing out every through ball that came their way in the opening half, denying Mullingar Celtic many attempts on target. In the tenth minute, goal-scorer McCourt was through on goal and one-on-one with Rory Matthews, who got down low and saved the shot.

The hosts had two chances within the next five minutes. Firstly, Pauric McComb's shot went into the goalkeepers grasp, while a mix-up at the back had Rory Daly in for a golden opportunity which was squandered to his team's dismay.

Goal number two arrived in the 17th minute. A delightful through ball pinged from the wing by Ben McCann found John Doyle, who showed great strength to ward off the challenges of the opposing centre-backs and slid the ball under the out-rushing goalkeeper.

The ball found the Mullingar net once more in the half after a brilliant passing move on 26 minutes which Aaron McCourt finished off, but the referee signalled for offside. A further chance arrived six minutes before the interval when John Doyle’s cross couldn’t reach the onrushing Ryan McKenna at the back post.

Substitute Dale Gibney Tarleton tried to lob Shamrocks keeper Conor Brady on the stroke of half-time, yet the ball landed in the goalkeeper’s grasp, and the visitors kept hold of their 2-0 half-time lead.

Penalty scare

The second half proved to be more of the same as Mullingar Celtic struggled to create opportunities on goal, while Walsh Island dominated possession. The visitors created some early chances after the interval, the best of them coming in the 50th minute, when the out-rushing Rory Matthews got down low and denied Doyle a second goal. Things remained stable at the back for Shamrocks, while Jason Dempsey’s bursting runs from deep caused mayhem for the Mullingar men.

The hosts did get a glimmer of hope for a late revival in the 67th minute when substitute Jack Curran was fouled in the box, and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped Dylan Cannon, who struck the ball well, but Conor Brady maintained his clean sheet, the netminder diving to his right to stop the shot.

Andy Donoghue and Dylan Cannon saw their efforts deflected wide for the Mullingar men, but those proved to be the only two chances that the hosts could muster for the remainder of the match. Walsh Island kept their foot on the gas and should have found their third goal when over-thought his one-on-one, with Celtic defender Johnny Mee denying John Doyle.

James Gallagher had a long-range effort in the closing stages, as did Jason Dempsey, who couldn’t have hit the ball sweeter in the 78th minute only for his shot to sail just to the right and wide.

Dempsey did get his goal in the very last play of the game, when he showed great strength to get in behind the Mullingar rearguard and went on to find the net. It was a case of job done for Walsh Island Shamrocks in the harshest of conditions away from home.

Man of the match: Jason Dempsey (Walsh Island Shamrocks).

Walsh Island Shamrocks: Conor Brady; Eoghan Geoghegan, Ben McCann, James Gallagher, Aaron Byrne; Jason Dempsey, Adam Duffy, Aaron McCourt; Jamie McKenna, John Doyle, Ryan McKenna.

Mullingar Celtic: Rory Matthews; Jay Fiormill, Dylan Cannon, Colm Baker, Johnny Mee; Stephen Daly, Rory Daly, Darren Aughey; Gearoid Sheridan, Pauric McComb, Mark Hickey. Subs: Dale Gibney Tarleton for P McComb (36), Andy Donoghue for R Daly and Jack Curran for M Hickey (60).

Referee: Damien McCormack.