Manchester Trip

On Friday morning at 6.15am in the GlenEaston carpark over 40 boys and their parents assembled for their weekend trip to Manchester. We headed for Dublin Port and boarded the ferry to Holyhead for the 8.20 sailing. Upon arrival in Holyhead we then headed off for our first stop in Liverpool.

We had a great time doing the Anfield stadium tour. It was good that several boys switched allegiances to Liverpool, much to the dismay of parents. The Liverpool museum was very enjoyable and the Liverpool shop did very well selling to the boys and daddies. It was then onto the Holiday Inn in Stockport where we enjoyed dinner and some beverages were also consumed. Not too much as we were up for breakfast between 7 and 8 and headed off to Arncliff sports ground for games against some local teams. All the teams performed very well and it was a very enjoyable experience.

Then it was off to Manchester City's Etihad Stadium where we spent some time in their Fans Zone where the boys had a great time. Before long, we headed into the stadium for the game against Watford. The game turned out to be a bittersweet experience for some Liverpool and United fans but it was brilliant to see Premier footballers up close. After the game we paid a visit to the Trafford Centrre where a bowling competition and some spectacular bumper car driving were the highlights.

More food and beverages rounded off the night and we headed back to the hotel tired but happy. Another early breakfast call before leaving for Wilmslow for a coaching session with some FA qualified coaches. The boys really enjoyed the session but probably not as much as the parents who took part in an impromptu game on an adjoining pitch. Some spectacular goals, some brilliant saves and a few very dubious tackles kept the entertainment going right to the end. Back onto the coach and off to Holyhead for the boat home. The buses then took everyone home to Leixlip to round off a tremendous weekend.

I was immensely proud of the behaviour of our young men on this trip - they were a credit to Leixlip Utd and their parents. In fairness their parents behaved pretty well too. Many thanks to Ciaran Tighe and Fergal Barton for organising the trip and their itinerary was first class. Thanks to all for a wonderful trip!

(Paul Martin, Chairman).

Special Olympics Blitz We had a terrific turn out at Leixlip United for Special Olympics Leixlip. The local Fire Crew even turned up to give a dig out having seen our post on social media! The action took place on 4 of our 7-a-side pitches and the day was a great success!

Mini Leagues 2022
Our annual Mini Leagues will take place over the June Bank Holiday weekend. Registration will open very soon so watch this space!!

Match Reports

SFAI Cup Semi Final Home Farm 2-0 Leixlip
Sadly our lads could not get a result today. It was a very tough game and for once a lack of quality let us down. It was 0-0 at half time but then we conceded a poor goal when a long ball wasn’t dealt with and an error allowed an open goal. We pushed without quality and ultimately got punished (bar an effort which came off the bar and by all accounts crossed the line) Many thanks to the brilliant support and massively disappointed we couldn’t deliver another all-Ireland for the club.

GIVOVO CUP
Donacarney 5-3 Leixlip Utd.
(AET)
Just had too many injuries in the end. We were by far the better team. But it just wasn’t our day today.
Still have the league to play for and will have to play Donacarney in possibly the last game of the season. Thankfully we are at home.

Under 18s Cup Quarter Final. Leixlip 11 v 0 Ardmore.
Won't get carried away by this as Ardmore were by far the weakest team remaining in the competition. The result was never in doubt and the lads were in the mood from the outset. Sean Slatterry and Owen Messionave both got hat tricks, James Seery got 2 and Luke Cullen, Luke Gorman and Callum Cleary got the others. Attitude was top class and we have good momentum as we move on to the semis next Sunday. It would be great to get a home draw!

U16 Saturday Cup s/final
Leixlip 1-3 Sacred Heart
Heartbreaker this morning. We were on top for most of the game and took a deserved lead via a fine solo effort from Killian Egan. We should really have added 1 more before halftime but it wasn't to be. The second half started brightly enough but Sacred Heart had a spell and an unfortunate equaliser off the shoulder of one of our defenders gave them some reward. It was up and down after that and it took a worldie to give them a lead which they cemented with a penalty 5 minutes into injury time to seal it. A great effort from the boys but just couldn't get the job done. Our final league game is on Wednesday to close out a good season.