LFA Women's Junior Cup Third Round
Sallins 3 - 3 Leixlip AET
Sallins won 4-2 on penalties
A fantastic performance from the Senior Women's team today.
Due to a combination of circumstances we started the game with the bare 11 but we were 2-0 up and cruising after 20 minutes. A couple of bad injuries later we were down to 9 players and 3-2 down at half time. We managed to equalise halfway through the second half even with only 9 players and take the game to extra time but we were out on our feet and did well to hang on for penalties.
The penalties didn't go our way but that doesn't take anything away from the performance.

U12 Girls SFAI National Trophy
Enniskerry FC 1 - 3 Leixlip Utd
It's been 10 weeks since our last game and it was a tough opener against an MGL Premier side.
Our girls completely controlled the game and on a better pitch on a different day we would have sown it up in normal time.
We went to extra time today where our dominance showed and we got 3 goals by our number 9 Niamh Looney who was too strong, quick and skillful for our Wicklow opponents. Although we held onto possession for the vast majority of the game today we still needed our goalie Jules Nunan to save us at the death with their only chance of the game.
This set of girls are shaping into a strong outfit and there will be many great days ahead for them in red & white

U15 Div 2.
Mourne Celtic 3 Leixlip 1
Lads were very poor in the first half today against a strong Celtic team. Some of our lads just didn't look up for the physical challenge. We were 3 nil down at half time. The lads improved in the second half. Fionn Cronin pulled one back just after half time. Seba Callin had the goal in the net for a second only for the ref to rule it out for a very dubious offside. Some excellent keeping from Cillian Gamble kept the score respectable for us but Mourne Celtic deserved the win.

MGL u17 Prem Leixlip 3 Clonee 1
Excellent performance this morning in heavy conditions. It was a close first half and we were very unfortunate to go in at half time a goal behind.
Second half we started strongly and when the ball broke to Abbie Creevy outside the box, she took a potshot which squirmed through the keeper's legs for 1-1. We got into our rhythm and started having chances, Maryam Abdul was unfortunate not to score from a well worked move. Then we had a free kick on the right hand side of the box, close to the corner flag, which Katie Allen pinged into the top corner with her left foot (she's right footed!) Clonee continued to work hard and our defenders held them at bay performing really well as a unit. Late on, after more excellent work around the box, the ball broke to Jae Howard who calmly took a touch and slammed it in for 3-1.

Very good win and great for so many players to contribute, especially across midfield where there was a lot of rotation. We're blessed to have a lot of strength in depth!

U12P Leixlip Utd 3-2 Swords Celtic.
We started well and took a deserved lead after 5 mins as Ben rounded the keeper and slotted home after being played through by Senán.
We controlled the game and had 3 other goal scoring chances before Ben got his second on 17 mins. This time he latched on to a through ball by Jacob.
The game opened up after that with both teams having chances before Swords pulled a scrappy goal back before halftime.
Swords started the second half brighter and got an equaliser shortly after the restart. We panicked a bit and relied on Dan to make 4 great saves before we got going again. Once we started playing our game again we created several chances, one of which Aidas dispatched in his first game back from injury. Everyone of the 11 boys put a massive shift in! Still smiling.
We lost 5-1 to Swords TWICE last season so I hope the boys get massive belief from the victory.

U14B
Leixlip United 1 Leicester Celtic 1
A lively, evenly matched encounter, right from kick off, ultimately ended with a disappointing share of the spoils against bottom of the table Celtic.
This was our first league game of 2023.
While we were missing some key players, a repeat of the 4-1 win in the reverse fixture was not an unreasonable expectation. Especially after last week’s excellent (friendly) draw Vs A League table toppers Knocklyon. Leixlip took the lead 10 mins in through Aidan Doyle. Skilfully finding just enough space inside the 18 yard box before neatly finishing in the top right corner.

Credit to Celtic who did not let their heads drop while the momentum was against them. Rallying to contain Leixlip to no further clear cut chances in the first half. At the restart, both teams picked up were they had left off with some excellent, individual battles playing out right across the pitch, particularly in midfield. Leixlip’s quality was just starting to show when mid-way through the 2nd half a long hopeful ball from Celtic somehow slipped through our stubborn defence giving them their first (and only) true opportunity on goal which they gratefully snapped up.
A common theme this season has been Leixlip’s superior fitness breaking down the opposition late on. Unfortunately, Celtic buoyed by their equaliser, managed to stay the course. Leixlip did miss 2 great chances, one very late on, to take the game but a draw was arguably a fair outcome.

Body language at the final whistle told the story. Celtic loudly celebrating the draw, a massive result for them, while Leixlip left the field in silence. Next week is another game and the ideal opportunity to bounce back to winning ways. Special shout to the great support provided by our injured players Ronan Hanly, Ryan Good and Otto Brennan today. Testament yet again to the wonderful spirit within the squad.

U17B
Greystones 0-2 Leixlip
Tough game away from home, chilly and windy out at the seaside, we were a bit rusty after the Xmas break and it was a sloppy enough 1st half which ended 0-0, second half we started to play much better and really threatened the hosts goal, we got the breakthrough with about 20 minutes left with Aji Adegboye latching onto a through ball and poking past the onrushing keeper, we had more chances in the minutes after that 1st and finally got our second after Adam Dagg smashed a shot against the bar and Luke Clarke followed it in to head home the second, not pretty but a very satisfying win.

U15 Div 2.
Phoenix fc 2 Leixlip 1
Lads were very unlucky again today. Phoenix scored midway through the first half after the ball broke kindly for them. Seba Calin equalised before half time with a well taken goal after some excellent approach work from Charlie McCarthy. Ref awarded Phoenix a very dubious penalty early in the second half. Cillian Gamble made an excellent save but Phoenix scored the rebound. Lads pressed for an equaliser and had three successive corners in the dying minutes but just couldn't convert. Plenty of positives but plenty to work on too.

U12 Boys National Trophy Round 2
Terenure Rangers 0-2 Leixlip Utd
Nice start back for the lads. We controlled the play for most of the game and never really looked in any danger of conceding. We played some nice football on a bumpy pitch and kept trying to do the right things in and out of possession. Once again each of the lads put a great shift in. We’ve a home draw in Rd 3 to look forward to. Jacob and Senán with the goals.

DDSL U8/U9 Girls blitz
Well done to our Leixlip teams for taking part in the DDSL U8/U9 Girls blitz on Sunday at the South Dublin Football League in Ballyowen. Looks like a great day was had by all. Picture above