Mullinavat 2-17; Dicksboro 1-09
Mullinavat advanced to the quarter finals of the 2026 Senior Football Championship with an eleven-point victory over Dicksboro in this lunchtime encounter at Mullinavat GAA Grounds on Sunday last.
On a difficult afternoon weather-wise, with a swirling wind and persistent drizzle throughout, conditions made fluent football difficult for both sides. Handling errors were frequent, and long-range shooting proved challenging, particularly into the breeze. It was only in the final quarter that the home side truly asserted their dominance, turning what had been a competitive contest into a convincing win on the scoreboard.
Mullinavat started the brighter of the two teams, settling quickly despite the tricky conditions. Early pressure paid off as they registered an unanswered 1-2. Michael Malone was central to this strong opening, converting two excellent two-point frees from distance, showing both accuracy and composure in the wind. The early goal came courtesy of Robin Davis, who finished clinically to the net after a well-worked attacking move that exposed gaps in the Dicksboro defence.
The city side, however, responded with resilience. They opened their account around the quarter-hour mark when Edward Moylan slotted over a two-point free, reducing the deficit and settling his side into the game. This was followed by a point from play by Billy Fitzpatrick, before Dicksboro struck for a crucial goal. A slick passing move carved open the Mullinavat defence, and Sean Keenan applied the finish to the net, giving the visitors a significant boost and bringing them right back into contention.
Buoyed by this momentum, Dicksboro continued to press forward. Moylan added another free, and shortly afterwards they edged into the lead for the only time in the match. This came after a brilliant save from Mullinavat goalkeeper Jack Walsh, whose initial intervention denied a certain goal, but Dicksboro capitalised on the resulting passage of play to go 1-4 to 1-3 ahead.
Mullinavat responded well to this setback. Regaining their composure, they began to control possession more effectively around the middle third. Their defensive unit tightened up, limiting Dicksboro’s scoring opportunities, while their forwards became more efficient in front of goal. By the interval, Mullinavat had regained the initiative and led by three points, 1-7 to 1-4, a margin that reflected their strong finish to the half.
With the advantage of the wind in the second half, Mullinavat were expected to push on, and they did just that. They made an impressive start to the new half, stretching their lead with a series of well-taken scores. Conor Walsh and Robin Davis both contributed points from play, while Michael Malone continued to lead by example, adding a superb two-pointer that extended their advantage further.
At this stage, Mullinavat looked firmly in control, opening up a seven-point lead at 1-11 to 1-4. Their dominance around midfield, coupled with disciplined defending, meant that Dicksboro struggled to create meaningful chances. However, to their credit, the visitors did not give up. Edward Moylan remained a constant threat from placed balls, converting three frees—including long-range efforts that counted as two-pointers—to reduce the deficit to four points and keep his side within touching distance entering the final quarter.
Despite this brief resurgence, Mullinavat found another gear as the game entered its closing stages. Their superior fitness and depth began to tell, and they added a series of late scores to pull away decisively. Michael Malone capped an outstanding individual performance with a well-taken goal, effectively ending any hopes of a Dicksboro comeback.
Further points from Ian Duggan, Brian Phelan, and Ger Malone ensured that Mullinavat finished strongly, ultimately securing a flattering eleven-point margin of victory. While the final scoreline may have suggested a one-sided contest, much of the game was closely fought, particularly in the opening half and early stages of the second period.
Overall, this was a solid and professional performance from Mullinavat, who showed composure, resilience, and clinical finishing when it mattered most. Dicksboro, meanwhile, will take some positives from their display, particularly their battling qualities and the scoring prowess of Edward Moylan, but will rue missed opportunities and a difficult final quarter.
SCORERS:
Mullinavat: Michael Malone (1-9, 0-5 frees, 1×2 pointer), Robin Davis (1-1), Ian Duggan (0-3), Conor Walsh (0-2), Brian Phelan (0-1), Ger Malone (0-1).
Dicksboro: Edward Moylan (0-8, 2×2 pointers, all frees), Sean Keenan (1-0), Billy Fitzpatrick (0-1).
TEAMS
Mullinavat: Jack Walsh, Ian Mansfield, Simon Aylward, Sean Fitzpatrick, Paudie Gahan, Ger Malone, Padraig Dempsey, James Culleton, Thomas Aylward, Conor Walsh, Mick Malone, Eoin Dempsey, Robin Davis, Brian Phelan, Ian Duggan. Substitutes Used: Stephen O’Shea, David Maher. Rest of Panel: Mark McNamara, Fiachra Knox, George O’Connor, Cian McDonnell, Patrick Walshe.
Dicksboro: Martin Gaffney junior, Eoghan Moylan, Kevin Nolan, Adam Phelan, Stephen Dermody, Eoin Fennelly, Niall Rowe, Mark Nolan, Kevin Moore, James Carroll, Shane Stapleton, Billy Fitzpatrick, Edward Moylan, Darragh Holahan, Sean Keenan.
Referee: Owen Kenny.
