Gallen pay the price for early red card
Mullingar Celtic 4 Gallen United 0
Gallen United were unable to recover from losing a man to a straight red card after just 90 seconds of play in this Paddy Cotter Cup game against Mullingar Celtic on Sunday last.
The Mullingar side took full advantage of the extra player and went on to claim a 4-0 win. From minute one to 90, Celtic were dominant but they certainly were aided by that very early Gallen red card.
However, there is little doubt that Celtic were just on their game and, no matter what the numerics were, they surely would have triumphed anyway. From front to back they ran the show and indeed could have have won by more, but the four goals scored were pleasing on the eye.
The game was barely a pup when a superb Cian Farrell ball played in Mark Hickey who was stopped unceremoniously by Gallen full-back Gearóid Daly. The Gallen defender not only gave away a free but was red carded after a minute and a half of play. That perceived injustice was further punished when Celtic's Ricky Scally stepped up and drove a beauty to the top left corner of the net for the opening goal and a dream start after two minutes.
The Ferbane side struggled thereafter but did pull themselves together somewhat, but Celtic were in no mood for sympathy and played some excellent football. Ryan Dempsey fired over the top and Dean Scully was unlucky with his effort after a brilliant Mark Hickey pass. Dempsey was again unfortunate when he looked certain to score but couldn’t find the finishing touch.
Gallen were restricted to half chances and rarely broke past the halfway line but it would take until the 35th minute for Celtic to double their advantage when Gearóid Sheridan put a slide rule pass in for Dempsey to slot home a super goal.
Seven minutes later, that two became three when Dempsey pounced on a stray Gallen pass, side-stepped past two challenges and clipped over the ‘keeper. That left the Mullingar side 3-0 up at half-time and cruising.
Gallen tried to regroup and did settle the ship somewhat on the restart with Rian Power and Charlie Gilson making inroads, but Celtic were defiant at the back with Colm Baker and Johnny Mee in steadfast form. Hickey almost set up Dean Scully for a fourth with a sublime run and cross.
On 64 minutes, Celtic put the game beyond doubt when Sheridan slipped another brilliant ball through to substitute Dale Gibney Tarleton and he powered home from a tight angle. It was clinical from the Mullingar men.
The home side was in cruise control from there on with Farrell and Sheridan bossing the midfield, Dylan Cannon superbly spraying the ball around at the back and the subs adding another dimension to what was already a complete display. Farrell was very unlucky to see his piledriver come off the crossbar and the follow-up from Pauric McCoombe went just wide, while another sub Jack Curran almost added a fifth.
Gallen can be thankful for some heroic goalkeeping from Kevin Slammon who made several great saves, none better than the two from Farrell and Dale Gibney Tarleton very late on that defied description. These mattered little in the end as Celtic ran out easy winners on a good day for the Mullingar side and an occasion to forget for the west Offaly outfit.
Man of the match: Ryan Dempsey (Mullingar Celtic). Dempsey was in sparkling form and caused no end of trouble to Gallen, scoring twice, which just gets him the nod here.
Mullingar Celtic: Bernard Glynn, Dylan Cannon, Ricky Scally, Johnny Mee, Colm Baker, Joe Doyle, Mark Hickey, Gearóid Sheridan, Cian Farrell, Dean Scully, Ryan Dempsey. Subs: Dale Gibney Tarleton for Hickey (54 mins), Darren Aughey and Pauric McCoombe for Scally and Doyle (60), Jamie Tarleton and Jack Curran for Scully and Dempsey (66).
Gallen United: Kevin Slammon, Lee Moore, Gearóid Daly, Colin Murray, Stephen Greer, Darren Cullinan, Stephen Screeney, Bernard Corcoran, Charlie Gilson, Ronan Cassidy, Rian Power. Subs: Lee Guinan for Gilson (54 mins), William Commins for Murray (66), Barry Finnegan for Greer (74).
Referee: Paul Malone.