Leixlip withstand mighty Cappagh comeback to win Kildare JHC title

Leixlip had to withstand a great Cappagh second half comeback to claim the UPMC Kildare Junior Hurling Championship title in an exciting contest at Cedral St Conleth’s Park on Friday night.

Leixlip were six points up at half time, despite playing against the breeze, and they went on to lead by ten points within five minutes of the restart.

The Cappagh comeback started with a goal from Toby McMoreland in the 36 minute and was brought to the minimum by Adam Mooney’s frees and a Darragh Devine goal by the 48 minute. Indeed, the men in the red and white hoops could have taken the lead in the 52 minute but Mooney’s penalty flew over James Nealon’s crossbar.

The comeback was thwarted, though, by a 54 minute Leixlip goal from midfielder. Matthew Canning and although Cappagh brought it back to two points again with a Mooney free and a point from play from McMoreland Leixlip were able to see out the game with points from,

John Roche and substitute Adam Rossiter. In a nail-biting finish Cappagh forced three 65s but the Leixlip defence held solid to record the three point victory.

Playing with the wind in the first half Cappagh had a whirlwind start with a point from wing back, Adam Fenlon and a Shane Donohue goal inside two minutes. Led by the evergreen John Doran and John Roche, Leixlip worked their way back into the game and drew level with a brilliant sideline cut from Man of the Match, Roche.

Brian Nicholson and Adam Mooney exchanged frees before Leixlip took command with goals from Ian Murphy and Nicholson.
Although Mooney kept Cappagh in touch with frees, an excellent long-range point from Roche game Leixlip a 2-8 to 1-5 half time lead. When Eoin McManus reacted quickest to a Cathal Manley centre to finish to David Walsh’s net, Leixlip looked comfortable at 3-10 to 1-6 lead six minutes into the second half. A couple of telling substitutions and a heightened performance from McMoreland and Darragh Devine as well as substitute Cathal Boyle brought Cappagh back into the game, helped in no small measure by goals from the wing forwards.

Scorers: Leixlip: Brian Nicholson 1-5 (5 frees), Matthew Canning 1-1, Eoin McManus 1-0, Ian Murphy 1-0, John Roche 0-4 (1 X S/L, 1f), Joe Evans and Adam Rossiter 0-1 each.

Cappagh: Adam Mooney 0-10 (7 frees, pen, 65)Toby McMoreland 1-1, Shane Donohue and Darragh Devine 1-0 each, Adam Fenlon and Cathal Doyle 0-1 each.

LEIXLIP: James Nealon; Conall Henson, John Doran, Lee Hogan; Damien Holden, Tomás Seale, Joe Evans; Matthew Canning, Dara de Búrca; Eoin McManus, John Roche, Brian Nicholson; John Buckley, Ian Murphy, Cathal Manley. Subs: Sean Killeen for Lee Hogan H/T, Adam Rossiter for Eoin McManus 43, Johnny Mooney for John Buckley 50, Niall Egan for Brian Nicholson 50, Damien Carty for Ian Murphy 58.

CAPPAGH: David Walsh; Oisin Farrell, Daniel Griffin, Adam Dopran; Adam Fenlon, William McDonnell,B en Keogh; Adam Farrell, Daniel Maher; Toby McMoreland, John Corcoran, Darragh Devine; Adam Mooney, Shane Donohue, Evan Farrell. SUBS: Cathal Doyle for Adam Doran 37, Cian Barclay for William McDonnell 44.

REFEREE: Owen Murphy.

READ NEXT: Clane win Kildare Senior B Hurling Championship in absolute cracker