Rushe goal turns the tide as Villa go on rampage

Temple Villa 7, Mullingar Celtic 1

By John Dingle

An amazing second half saw Temple Villa come from a goal down to then hit seven past a shocked Mullingar Celtic in this CCFL Division 1 game at TP Hickey Park last Sunday.

A scoreless first half gave little indication of the goal fest that was to follow. The visitors opened the scoring early in the second half with Villa player/manager Damien Rushe soon equalising. The floodgates opened just after the hour mark when Rushe put the hosts in front with five more goals following before the finish.

Villa resumed action for the New Year in second place on the league table while Celtic were in a mid-table position but poised to pounce on any slip up by the leading teams. There was little between the sides in the opening half with the visitors having a promising start and Villa coming more into contention as the half progressed.

Celtic earned the first corner kick of the game and followed up with a second when Fola Ayorinde's shot was put behind as Cian Farrell then headed wide from the delivery. Villa forced their first corner after 12 minutes with Celtic surviving as Darren Nugent’s shot was blocked on the goal line.

There was little further noteworthy action until after the midway point of the half with Ayorinde sparking the game back to life with a long range volley which flew narrowly wide. The Mullingar men were pressing for the opening score and Villa goalkeeper Paul Bannon did well to get down at his near post to save an attempt from Ian Keelan.

The home team enjoyed the better chances in the closing stages as Aaron O’Neill fired over following a free kick and Benny Magennis had a shot blocked. Nazar Zubkov ended the action in the half when firing wide for the home team as both teams cancelled each another out.

What happened when play resumed was truly astonishing as the goal drought soon ended to be followed by seven further scores, with six goals coming after the hour mark alone.

The deadlock was broken two minutes into the second half when Celtic's Mark Hickey clipped the ball past Bannon after receiving a pass from Keith Hope.

Keelan soon had a chance to double the lead but this time was denied by the Villa keeper. A corner from the home team began their attacking efforts in the half with the teams on level terms after 53 minutes. A good move starting with full back Liam Flynn then saw Nugent cut the ball back from the end line for Rushe to find the net.

The outcome was in the balance at this stage with no indication that Villa would soon hit Celtic for six more goals. After Magennis shot wide, Villa took the lead on 62 minutes with a second Rushe score. Dean O’Neill had a shot blocked but the Villa manager was on hand to put away the rebound. The Mount Temple based outfit never looked back thereafter.

Two more goals in less than five minutes had the hosts in control. A minute after taking the lead, Villa further increased their advantage through Nugent with Magennis involved prominently in the build-up. It soon became four one as Nugent turned provider for Zubkov to score, midway through the half.

Villa's Mark Gannon then had a shot saved as two substitutes helped the hosts complete the rout in the last quarter of an hour. The experienced Kieran McNally was not long in the action, having replaced Rushe, when celebrating his introduction with the fifth Villa goal on 75 minutes. A low shot past the helpless keeper's left killed off any hopes of a Celtic revival.

Goal number six for Villa came after 79 minutes with another sub on the scoresheet. Dean O’Neill did well on the right and his cross picked out Andy O’Sullivan, who fired home with a low shot.

The goal fest finally ended with 82 minutes played as McNally also doubled up. Dean O’Neill was again involved as he raided down the right and McNally had a simple tap in to complete the Villa rout. The substitute might even have ended the game with the match ball but headed over late on with the Celtic goal at his mercy.

The action ended in an amazing half with Gannon firing wide for the hosts as the game was then brought to a conclusion moments early due to an injury to a Celtic player.

The result gets 2025 off to a flying start for Villa and, with games in hand on their immediate rivals, they are well positioned to mount a challenge for the title.

TEMPLE VILLA: Paul Bannon, Dean O’Neill, Liam Flynn, Peter Sherlock, Ben Moran, Damien Rushe, Nazar Zubkov, Mark Gannon, Aaron O’Neill, Benny Magennis, Darren Nugent. Subs: Kieran McNally for Rushe (68 mins); Andrew O’Sullivan for Nugent (73); Ian McCormack and James Craughwell for Sherlock and Magennis (80).

MULLINGAR CELTIC: Dylan Cannon, Gearoid Sheridan, Dean McNicholas, Cian Farrell, Mark Hickey, Daire Hynes, Ian Keelan, Dean Scully, Fola Ayorinde, Keith Hope, Ryan Dempsey. Subs: Johnny Mee and Cillian Fagan for Sheridan and Hope (68 mins); Andy Donoghue for Ayorinde (80).

REFEREE: Ross Cole (Longford).