Melville magic sends Leixlip through in Leinster Junior Championship thriller

St Fechins weren’t given much plaudits or chance heading into this fixture, but nobody told them that as even despite some early scoreboard setbacks they stuck to their task diligently and made this a wonderful quarter-final fixture.

The stars of the opening half hour were undoubtedly the two number 15s as Cormac Keegan and Paul Matthews both hit the net twice for their respective sides and each time in superb fashion.

Darragh Melville was his usual reliable self with four opening half points and one of the scores of the day came at the other end as wing-back David Stephenson slotted a free from his own 65’ to draw a rousing cheer from the home crowd.

Leixlip went in at half-time two points to the good, 2-8 to 2-6, following a bright start but a less than convincing performance all round. The backline looked leaky as St Fechins notched two goals in the opening half and had a few more sights at Keith O’Callaghan’s net too.

Nevertheless, the favoured leading side despite not being on the firing form often bodes well for the leading team in the second half. But nobody handed the Louth champions that usual script as they came out after the restart with a ferocious intensity.

Near instant points from Seán Kerrisk and Patrick Lynch and the Wee County hurlers were level. But they weren’t just points, the mood had shifted and as Lexlip passed up possession and gave away sloppy frees you began to worry for the temperament of the Kildare Intermediate title holders.

Coupled with some marginal refereeing decisions falling their way, St Fechins were now dominating this game and notched three more points without reply.

Leixlip’s first point since the restart came on 41 minutes and was sent over from the ash of double goalscorer Cormac Keegan.
Moments later, St Fechins wing-forward Seaghan Conneely was denied a goal as someone amongst a sea of Leixlip bodies managed to claw his effort off the line.

Following another narrow defensive miss, it was time for Melville magic as Leixlip’s star man came to the fore. After a cracking long-range free and another from close range to reduce the gap to a single point, Darragh Melville lit up this game.

The Leixlip corner-forward collected the ball from deep and only had one thing on his mind as he drove at the St Fechins backline. In what was the biggest moment of the game so far, Melville had carved himself a golden opportunity and he took it some style, shifting the ball onto his left side and drilling the ball into the far bottom corner. The stunning goal with 12 minutes to go made it 3-11 to 2-12 and Leixlip led for the first time since early in the second half.

Travers would register an excellent score of his own just a minute later with another superb run and expertly slotted his effort between the sticks.

After one point in the other direction from Patrick Lynch, Leixlip finally seized this game and had a spell similar to what their opponents enjoyed. Ben Travers, Alan Murphy and Darragh Melville all scored to extend their side’s lead to seven points at 3-18 to 2-14 as the game reached additional time.

It looked all but over but in truth Leixlip never got their house in order at the back. A goalmouth scramble in front of their posts ended with St Fechins corner-forward Paul Matthews netting his third goal of the game as he swept in the loose ball on 61 minutes.

Just two minutes later and the gap was down to one as further chaos ensued around the Leixlip box and this time it was the previously denied Seaghan Conneely who put the ball in the net.

We had a one-point game and just as the nervous energy in Darver had slightly dissipated, it was ramped up tenfold. But Leixlip got their defence right when they needed to and pulled off a couple of superb blocks to maintain their lead.

The Kildare side broke away and were fouled, the ball was handed to Darragh Melville to finally put this game beyond all doubt.

Melville slotted the free like it was nothing and the whistle sounded moments later to bring an end to an absolutely breathless game of Leinster Championship hurling.

Leixlip progress after a performance they would like to forget but a result that they certainly won't. The bottom line is, they progress to a Leinster semi-final.

MAIN MAN
Darragh Melville
There were few other choices for this pick in the Leixlip team barring perhaps double goalscorer Cormac Keegan. But after a sensational 1-9 that included crucial frees and a brilliant solo goal, it was all about Darragh Melville when it mattered most for Leixlip in this quarter-final.

TURNING POINT
The previously mentioned Darragh Melville goal was huge for Lexilip, as it inspired a period of dominance that, despite the late St Fechins flurry, won them this game.

TALKING POINT
The big takeaway from this game was that Leixlip will need to vastly improve their defensive showing next time out. For all the attacking flair and free scoring, there were countless problems at the other end. But they got the job done and now its time to ensure that things improve going forward.

WHAT NOW?
Leixlip progress to an AIB Leinster Club GAA Junior Hurling Championship semi-final and will face Offaly's Carrig Riverstown.

Scorers: Leixlip, Darragh Melville 1-9 (0-4 frees), Cormac Keegan 2-2, Jack Travers 0-3, James Canning 0-1, Conor Burke 0-1, John Roche 0-1, Alan Murphy 0-1, Ben Travers 0-1.

St Fechins, Paul Mattews 3-2, Patrick Lynch 0-5 (0-4 frees), David Stephenson 0-4 (0-3 frees), Seán Kerrisk 0-3, Seaghan Conneely 1-0.

LEIXLIP: Keith O'Callghan; Jack McGonigle, Ryan Doyle, Cillian Nicholson; Conor Higgins, John Doran, Conor Burke; James Canning, John Roche; Ben Travers, Jack Travers, Tomas Seale; Darragh Melville, Stephen Ryan, Cormac Keegan. Subs: Alan Murphy for Tomas Seale (38 minutes), Sean McManus for John Roche (60 minutes).

ST FECHINS: Dan O'Neill; Cormac McAuley, Danny Morgan, Conor Higgins; David Stephenson, Peter Fortune, Cathal Ryan; Donal Ryan, Seán Hodgins; Seán Kerrisk, Ross Berkery, Seaghan Conneely; Ruairí Morrissey, Patrick Lynch, Paul Mathews. Subs: Barry Devlin for Cathal Ryan (62 minutes).

Referee: Kyle Waters (Offaly)