Leixlip get the best of Moorefield, eventually to book final spot

UPMC Senior B Hurling Championship semi-final

Leixlip 1-18

Moorefield 0-10

It was all's well that ends well for Leixlip as they produced a superb second half display to put any concerns of an upset against Moorefield to bed.

The eventual winners trailed 0-8 to 0-6 at the break after an excellent Moorefield display. The Moores came into this game as huge underdogs, but capitalised on a slow Leixlip start to take a lead into half-time.

Leixlip did get the first score of this game however and it was one from the man that would come to be their top scorer on the day, Darragh Melville.

Moorefield would respond with their leading point-scorer in the form of Reece Gavin. Leixlip pulled two points clear on the 15 minute mark with a Cathal Melville point. It was the first time the sides were separated by more than a single score and the favourites would have been fancied to kick on from here.

But all credit must go to Moorefield as they battled back to level playing over the next 10 minutes of play with scores from Reece Gavin, from a 65’, and Cian Cullen, amongst others.

The Moores took the lead for the first time with a long-range free from centre-back Sean Maher. After a fine save from ‘keeper Kevin Corry to deny Leixlip a clear sight at goal, Moorefield would be on top for the remainder of the first half.

Scores from Reece Gavin and Muiris Curtin meant the unfancied Moores led by three as this game hit injury time of the opening half.

Leixlip would reduce the gap to two with the last chance before the break with a fine point from Ben Travers.

The sides entered the break with Moorefield leading 0-8 to 0-6, much to the dismay of the Celbridge faithful who had arrived expecting a convincing win in this semi-final.

Celbridge would give their fans something to shout about 20 seconds into the second half as Sean O’Connor drove from midfield and expertly found the back of the net. O’Connor blasted his effort goalwards and with it sent his team back into the lead of this game.

Darragh Melville and John Roche, with a booming effort from distance, extended their sides advantage soon.

Leixlip would never lose the lead again but Moorefield didn’t go quietly following the huge early setback.

They responded to the tough early spell with two superb frees from centre-back Sean Maher who showed some real quality from range in this game.

However, it would be the last time we would see the Moorefield side of the scoreboard change as Leixlip took a stranglehold of this semi-final.

Amongst the coming Leixlip dominance, Darragh Melville stood out as the leading man for his side as he hit four of the next six scores for his team.

The leading side were now turning the ball over at will and they began to take advantage of the space that afforded them.

Darragh Melville was far from alone on the scoresheet as many of the eventual winners chipped in on their way to a 1-18 scoreline.

Ben and Jack Travers registered two each and Tomas Seale’s sole contribution was one of the scores of the game as the wing-forward spun his man and superbly fired over from range.

It may have looked convincing in the end for Leixlip but they will be looking for a much more complete performance when they face Naas in the final.

But all the credit to their opponents on the day, Moorefield were given little hope in this game pre-match and they put it up to the Championship favourites for much of this game.

Scorers: Leixlip, Darragh Melville 0-8 (0-3 frees), Sean O'Connor 1-0, Ben Travers 0-2, John Roche 0-2, Jack Travers 0-2, Stephen Ryan 0-1, Cathal Melville 0-1, Tomas Seale 0-1, Alan Murphy 0-1.

Moorefield, Reece Gavin 0-6 (0-4 frees), Sean Maher 0-3 (0-3 frees), Cian Cullen 0-1.

LEIXLIP: Keith O'Callaghan; Jack McGonigle, Ryan Doyle, Dara Mooney; Conor Higgins, John Doran, James Canning; Sean O'Connor, John Roche; Ben Travers, Jack Travers, Tomas Seale; Darragh Melville, Stephen Ryan, Cathal Melville. Subs: Sean McManus for Stephen Ryan (54 minutes), Alan Murphy for Tomas Seale (59 minutes), Cillian Nicholson for Jack McGonigle (60 minutes).

MOOREFIELD: Kevin Corry; Cian Brannigan, Malvin Moloney, Colin Gleeson; Graham Cregoe, Sean Maher, Shane Delmer; Adam Flood, Conor Corrigan; Conn Kehoe, Reece Gavin, Muiris Curtin; Aaron Martin, Adam O'Brien, Cian Cullen. Subs: Aaron Shelley for Cian Brannigan (10 minutes), Aidan O'Brien for Conor Corrigan (36 minutes).

Referee: Raymond Kelly