CYM Beechwood: 1
Mullingar Atheltic: 1
By Paul O’Donovan
An injury time penalty converted by Kevin ‘Hagi’ Keegan secured a vital away point against title contenders CYM Beechwood in Terenure Sports Grounds in Dublin, last Sunday morning, in this Leinster Senior League Major Sunday Division clash.
Athletic could have won this game, as they had a number of good chances which they failed to convert. But having travelled to Dublin with a depleted squad and having trailed in this game for almost an hour, Athletic were quite pleased to come away with a good point.
For various reasons, Athletic were without a number of regulars, including Keith Hope, Ben Traynor, Johnny Gavin, Darren Jones and Tony Dunne. This saw a recall for Stephen Brennan, who came into defence and played quite well.
On a very bumpy surface, Athletic could have taken the lead in just the second minute. Kevin Keegan headed the ball on and Stephen Daly raced in behind the defence, heading the ball over the advancing keeper, but inches wide of the post.
Darragh Kiernan, with a cross shot and Eoin Lanigan with a volley, also went close for the visitors in the opening quarter.
However against the run of play, the home side took the lead on 31 minutes. Centre forward Adam Buckley got a cheeky flick on the ball, wrong footing a couple of defenders, before his tame shot bounced slowly onto the far post before rolling into the net. This was a setback for Athletic but they came close to equalising before the break – Eoin Lanigan again heading just over from close range, while Stephen Brennan’s 20 metre effort zipped over the crossbar.
Athletic trailed 0-1 going into the second half but five minutes after the restart, Enda Morris almost drew the sides level, but his deft lob past the advancing keeper dropped inches the wrong side of the post. Darragh Kiernan’s free-kick was also well held by the CYM keeper as Mullingar continued to push forward.
Mullingar had a real let off, however, on the hour mark. The CYM striker Adam Buckley nipped in between sub Jason McGrath and the advancing goalie Stephen Watters. Buckley, from out wide right, sent a low shot across the face of the goals. Darragh Monks of CYM looked certain to score but Conor Kavanagh got back to make a brilliant saving tackle at the near post and deny CYM what would have been a certain victory.
At this stage Mullingar had lost both Shane Kavanagh and Eoin Lanigan through injury, but the side finished the game very strongly. Playing some fine football, and with Enda Morris now in an attacking role, Athletic continued to threaten. Stephen Daly and Conor Kavanagh both went close from headers, while Enda Morris saw his near post header superbly saved by the CYM goalkeeper.
Then just as injury time commenced, Darragh Kiernan was fouled just inside the edge of the penalty box. Cool as ice, Kevin Keegan stepped up and neatly fired home the equaliser from the spot kick.
Indeed in the minutes that remained, Athletic pressed for a late winner, but in the circumstances, this was a good away point and keeps CYM four points behind in second place with a game more played, with third placed Clondalkin Celtic also four points behind with a game in hand.
Mullingar Athletic: Stephen Watters, Conor Kavanagh, Shane Kavanagh, Stephen Brennan, Darragh Kiernan, David Masterson, Kevin Keegan, Enda Morris, David Mimnagh, Eoin Lanigan. Subs used: Andrew Robinson for Eoin Lanigan (injured, 63 minutes), Jason McGrath for Stephen Kavanagh (injured, 63 minutes).
CYM Beechwood: David Moriarty; Rex Walsh, Alex Byrne, Conor Callaghan, Michael Ó Tierney, Jerry Sheehan, Pearse Traynor, Rowan Walsh, Adam Buckley, Mike Ryan, Kevin Moran. Sub used: Darragh Monks for Kevin Moran (injured, 41 minutes).
Referee: Eddie Reilly.
