Leixlip's Conor Burke buzzing for Senior B final clash

Leixlip were without captain Conor Burke for their semi-final with Moorefield and that would have been a much bigger story had they not overturned their deficit at half-time.

“First half was slow, conditions were tough, with the wind and the rain. I think when we kicked into gear we were able to pull away, Moorefield are a very dogged team, really put it up to us, but we were able to get the scores to pull away,” Burke said.

Leixlip would run out 1-18 to 0-10 winners and with it secure a spot back in the Senior Hurling Championship for 2024 as final opponents Naas cannot be promoted.

“At the start (relegation) was a huge disappointment, the club had never been relegated before so we were all very motivated after that to not be the team that went down and ended up staying down. Everyone is really focused on the final next week,” Burke explained.

It is a sharp change of pace for any relegated side who see their game plans shift from backs to the wall to being expected to win games, but Leixlip have managed that superbly, going unbeaten across league and Championship.

“I think getting relegated to Senior B was in some ways a good thing to be able to blood the young players. I think starting off in Senior, there is a bit of a jump so those lads have got a bit of Championship hurling under their belt so they’ll be well able for it next year,” Burke said.

The Leixlip captain also had words for an iconic figure at the opposite end of his career in John Doran.

Saying, “There are talks of it anyway (retirement), hopefully not though. John is a stalwart of the club, best hurler on the team for the last how many years. A Leixlip legend.”