U16.4 Boys Donaghmede 1 Leixlip United 3.
A well deserved away win for the boys. The game’s opening period saw both teams cancel each other out before erupting to life after approximately 20 minutes with two key incidents. Donaghmede all but certain they had taken the lead through an almighty effort just outside the box were denied by a magnificent save from Leixlip’s MOTM goalkeeper Tom Ryan. With the opposition still scratching their heads the boys pressed forward. Gabby Floroiu’s fast feet forcing a messy tackle and penalty which he despatched with zero fuss. Donaghmede rallied and we had an equal back and forth to halftime. In the second half the boys stepped it up, pressing forward at every opportunity. A speculative long range drive from Adam Cotter giving Leixlip a deserved lead, followed not long after by a wonderful break and cross down the right, Cian Gilgunn expertly controlling and finishing in one action from 10 yards out. We didn’t have it all our own way. Tom Ryan with 2 further top drawer saves as Donaghmede desperately chased the game. A late goal off the post in the last few mins not enough to deny Leixlip the victory.
U12 Premier Girls Leixlip United 1 Sherbourne 0.
We faced the league leaders who were unbeaten all season. The first 10 minutes was even with both teams having a couple of half chances, after 10 minutes Leixlip grew into the game with Cara Mullen passing to Penny Molloy who fed it through to Kate Dean who done everything right but her shot hit the inside of the post and rolled across the 6 yard box. The last 10 minutes of the first half was all Leixlip some great football especially from our 2 wingers who had Sherbourne on the back foot all the time. Start of the 2nd half was all Leixlip again resulting in 3 corners in a row, on the last corner Khloe Keegan whipped it in on top of the keeper and took a slight deflection off the Sherbourne defender and ended up in the top corner. With Leixlip 1 nil up Sherbourne made some subs and threw everything at it. The 3 defenders were brilliant last ditch tackles and 5 corners on the bounce to defend, they stood strong with Emilia Clarke in goals gathering loose balls and relieving pressure whenever she could. A great win for the girls in a very tough league but today's result was well deserved. A big thank you to the 2014 girls who were immense again today Cara Mullen, Leah O Shea and Sophie Keegan.
U17 Major Girls Malahide 2 Leixlip United 5.
‘Favourite win ever’ is what some of the 11 who travelled called it - Malahide beat us 3 times last year including the cup. With no subs and no keeper the girls took ownership and 3 volunteered to split the duties. An early goal settled nerves, Emma Murphy was a rock again today and when her own corner came back to her she found Sophie Dalton who volleyed it in. After 30 minutes Sophie showed skill to set up Faye Kelly who made no mistake. We could have had more, Grace Kelly was very bright driving at them but half time came after they hit the bar from a free. Halftime 2-0 with a long 45 minutes to come. Looking at their bench with 4/5 subs it was critical to get the next score & it came when we worked a throw well. Isabelle Mullarkey picked a peach of pass to Sophie on the far side deep in the box and Sophie bagged her second. The test we knew was coming arrived then, a questionably offside run got in behind us and Malahide scored and followed up soon after with a second. They knew we were tired, under resourced and it stayed 3-2 for a good while as they heaped on pressure and took pot shots at our 3rd keeper of the day. Sarah Small and Pratibha Singh in particular scrambled to close things down and Lauren Doyle did really well under pressure in goals. Reprive came eventually. Abby Hudson had great game and her trade mark long throw was worked by Sophie over to Faye who slid stretched on to it to score. Another corner provided the icing on the cake - tireless Marie Isabel Merenciuc Sadoveanu lurking at the back post collected Cara Moriarty’s deep ball and laid it off to Faye who having played 30 minutes in goals still managed to cap a hattrick.
U16 Boys U16 sfai all Ireland Beechwood 1 Leixlip United 8.
Early morning out in Alex college on a nice grass pitch. Game started close and Jamie Flood had a great chance , soon after Jesse hit a cracker to make it 1-0. Quickly followed by prince, Aaron popped in a with a hattrick , before prince and Dave made it 7 before half time. Second half was tough to get going but after a soft peno for them Dave got another from a corner. Into the last round well done to all. Goals by: Jesse Cabral 2, Aaron McDonagh 3, David Hall 2 and Prince Heaven Jagha 1.
U18 major Boys Home Farm 0 Leixlip United 2.
Goals from Jamie Cassells and Conor Mcelhany keep our streak going. 2 world class saves from Callum Byrne at 1-0 where as good as 2 goals. 1st a point blank save 2nd a 1 handed tip onto the crossbar. Well done to all the players today they dug in deep especially having to play the last 25mins with 10 men. 1 more weekend and we are at the half way point in the league. 9 wins from 10 games.
U14-7 Boys Leixlip United 5 Drumcondra 5.
We should be charging people to watch our games, 5 star entertainment, not for the faint-hearted. We started brilliantly this morning, were strong all over the pitch and Conor Walsh put us in front in the 11th minute. We were in a great position to go build on the lead. Unfortunately, Drumcondra scored an equaliser pretty much straight from the tip off. Our heads didn't go down and we continued to play well despite Drumcondra going 2-1 ahead before the 20th minute. We kept our nerve and were rewarded with Jakub Ferdynus scoring a long range cracker. 2-2 at halftime, we probably should have been ahead but we were very happy with our performance. Second half kicks off and we're playing well, only to concede again against the run of play. But we fought hard and Ryan O'Neill got us level again. To keep things entertaining Drumcondra got another 2 quick goals so we were 5-3 down with 10 minutes left. I thought we'd blown it, we were still making silly mistakes when Ryan got his second with 2 minutes left. The boys were lifted to another level and Ryan completed his hattrick in the final minute. A brilliant comeback, we could of done with a few more minutes of injury time to get the winner.
U15.1 Boys Leixlip United 1 Bohs 1.
Leixlip started off well moving the ball and should have been up by 2 in first 15 minutes. First great work by Liam O'Hagan and Brendan Carolan down the right hand side who fed Ben Kineavy who was unlucky to hit the far post with a snapshot. Then Stevie Owens hit the bar with a looping effort after through ball from Jack Reilly. However the goal didn't come and Bohs hit us on the break and our defence was caught flat footed. We where very lucky not to concede another soon afterwards only for brilliant save by Conor Horan in goal who parried a shot wide. We then had to make 3 injury substitutions before half time which didn't help matters. 1-0 down at half time we regrouped. Came out second half and started to finally settle again playing good football. We got a penalty 10 mins in again another great run by Brendan Carolan who was fouled in the box and had to go off injured. Up stepped Stevie Owens to calmly slot home the penalty. Fairly even for the rest of the second half with 2 mins remaining Calum Dodd made last ditch tackle on their forward who would have been through on goal. To be fair the game could have been won or lost today. Draw probably a fair result and Bohs are always a decent opposition. MOTM today Conor Watkins in central defence.
U15 Major Boys Leixlip United 1 Joeys 0.
It was a 10am start but ref was 15 mins late and you would think Joeys were the home team in the first 10 minutes as they started way brighter but in truth they never really threatened us. After that we settled and grew into the game and we threatened a couple of times but nothing clear cut until Daniel Bradley latched on to a high bouncing ball in the box but the keeper came and cleaned him out no penalty. 0-0 at halftime but second half we had the better of the game in terms of possession and chances and an inspired change bringing Dany Pop in on the left had an instant impact and with good work on the left by Oisin Kelly and Harry O Connor they slipped in Dany and he beat a man drove into the box and forced a good save from their keeper and the ball popped up and Harry Habington was the man on the spot to fire the ball into the roof of the net from 3 or 4 yards out. We had 20 minutes to go and the work rate never dropped and we could have sneaked another but most important was the clean sheet and to a man we were excellent subs and all and we held them to half chances in fact I don’t think they had a shot all game testament to our back 4 and keeper. Important 3 points at home with most other teams playing in the cup.