Bergin grabs treble in Birr Town scoring spree

CCFL Senior Division: Birr Town 8 Mullingar Town 2

Birr Town inflicted a heavy defeat on Mullingar Town at a bitterly cold D'Alton Park in this CCFL Senior Division clash on Sunday last.

In what can only be described as a horror show for the local side, Birr ran out 8-2 winners. Mullingar had pretty much an equal share of possession for the first 50 odd minutes and struggled to convert it into goals, whereas their opponents punished clinically any aberration to lead 3-1.

Mullingar were then reduced to ten men with a straight red card issued to Daragh Kiernan and despite some heroic rearguard actions, they simply ran out of steam. Birr sensed it immediately and slotted in four late goals which put a slanted and flattering look to the final result, but there was no denying that they made better use of their time on the ball than the home side.

Birr were slick and effective in moving the ball front to back, while Mullingar were laboured and cumbersome at times and their play lacked the required intensity. In addition, they were far too easily cut open and while losing David Mimnagh and Alan Cashman early doors to injury certainly did not help the cause, there was no doubting the better side won here.

Mullingar had the better of the early exchanges with Sam Watkin and Nathan McCullagh going close, but they then lost Mimnagh and Cashman in the space of three minutes to injury and they struggled to reset.

Birr went ahead after 18 minutes when Luke Nolan half-volleyed the ball to the net after Johnny Corboy was denied. However, Mullingar seemed to regain their composure thereafter and Nathan McCullagh levelled on 29 minutes after great approach work by Paul Reid and Tristan Finnane.It was short-lived, though, as two in the space of five minutes from Birr's Ronan Bergin (after Corboy had hit the post) and Nathan Williams (from a deflected speculative shot) put them in control. Despite a couple of late chances, Mullingar found themselves two behind at the break after having the lion’s share of possession.

Greg Kozicki replaced the injured McCullagh at half-time and Mullingar went onto the front foot from the outset with Watkin striking over the top and Finnane very unlucky to see his wonderful effort come off the top of the bar and away to safety. Kiernan then saw red for arguing the case with the official, apparently after being denied a penalty shout.

It took away any of the momentum Mullingar had built up. And after Corboy missed a sitter for Birr, they went 4-1 up when substitute Ricky Fitzsimons netted a tap-in after the Mullingar defence was cut apart.

Home hopes were raised on 23 minutes when Sean Reid was fouled in the penalty area and Jason Charles slotted the penalty to make it 4-2, but it was simply a false dawn and four goals in seven minutes of mayhem saw Birr ride off into the sunset. Williams netted after a Mullingar attack went astray; and substitute Fitzsimons scored a beauty after another swift field long move.

Two superb strikes from hat-trick hero Ronan Bergin followed - a curler from 35 yards and a composed finish after Corboy had intercepted another Mullingar attack. That completed the scoring and Birr were heading home with the points after a clinical display that was just too good for Mullingar on the day.

Scorers - Birr Town: R Bergin 3, N Williams and R Fitzsimons 2 each; L Nolan 1. Mullingar Town: N McCullagh and J Charles (pen).

Man of the match: Johnny Corboy (Birr Town). Ronan Bergin with a hat-trick, Nathan Williams with a brace and Max Boyd were excellent for Birr. However, Johnny Corboy was the catalyst for so much of their good play and gets the nod here. Tristan Finnane, San Watkin and Sean Reid were best for Mullingar.

What it means: The result leaves Birr joint top of the Senior Division on nine points, alongside Willow Park and Monksland United. However, St Peter's (on eight points) have two games in hand while Clara Town (also on on eight points) have one game in hand.

Mullingar Town: Adrian Rapacki, Alan Cashman, David Mimnagh, Paul Reid, Jason Charles, Sean Reid, Tristan Finnane, David Dyer, Nathan McCullagh, Sam Watkin, Daragh Kiernan. Subs: Dan Beyo for Mimnagh and Enda Morris for Cashman (11 mins), Greg Kozicki for McCullagh (H-T), Jamie Loran for S Reid (74).

Birr Town: Dean Nettleship, Conor O’Sullivan, Sam Smith, Ceilim King, Max Boyd, Conor Hanamy, Luke Nolan, Nathan Williams, Ronan Bergin, Nicky Molloy, Johnny Corboy. Subs: Ricky Fitzsimons for Nolan (55 mins), Riann McLoughlin for Molloy (74).

Referee: Damian McCormack.