Despite having conceded the fewest number of points in the division, and having the greatest number of bonus points; despite the fact that only one of the three teams they defeated this season is second in the league, Mullingar go into this weekend’s fixture at home to Kilkenny still third from bottom in a division that relegates four this season.
Consistency of availability seems to be central to coach Peter Leahy’s headaches in this topsy turvy campaign, and this was highlighted heavily last weekend when exactly half of the 20 players who travelled to Kilkenny just 13 weeks ago, were unavailable for the narrow defeat to league leaders Longford. And still he is able to dig out players of the calibre of Ger Brennan and John Bagnall, both highly impressive debutantes last weekend in Longford, and who might both feel unlucky if they don’t cross the whitewash a little before 2.30pm on Sunday.
Mullingar face a Kilkenny side this weekend, a team only three places above them, but who could only defeat Mullingar 11-6 in the reverse fixture at Foulkstown on October 24.
In a game that introduced the find of the season - Paddy Butler - from the bench that day, Mullingar showed their hosts far too much respect early on, and by the time they realised they could do them, the clock had done its distance.
Indeed, reading the report from that game, the “ugly scald of frustration” and “that grrrr of unfulfillment” are the two phrases that stand out when trying to describe the players’ feelings over the post mortem pints later that evening.
Kilkenny are no mugs, and in fact, were many people’s favourites for promotion at the start of the season, but having seen them already, they have nothing that should frighten the Mullingar team that showed so much discipline and aggression in Longford last week.
As probably the biggest illuminator of the frustration of this season, look at Mullingar’s record against last week’s opposition. They have played Longford three times this season, have outscored them six tries to four, outpointed them 65 to 35, yet have lost two of the three games, and languish 26 points behind their table-topping neighbours. It’s a funny old game.
