Kildare star hits 4-13 in return to club hurling action after Joe McDonagh Cup win

Leixlip 7-23

Broadford 0-7

Leixlip proved to be in a different class to Broadford in the opening round of the UPMC Kildare Senior B Hurling Championship on Saturday afternoon. They had 37 points to spare in a totally one sided affair and with a 4-13 return from county star Darragh Melville Leixlip will rarely have a more comfortable afternoon.

Playing with the aid of a breeze in the opening half Leixlip moved into a 1-8 to no score lead after 24 minutes.

Darragh Melville hit for points, two from frees, in that opening burst and further points from Conor Burke, Cormac Keegan, Stephen Ryan and Sean McManus meant Broadford already had a mountain to climb. Broadford were having trouble finding the range as they hit 6 early wides.

With 24 minutes on the clock full forward Sean McManus got on the end of a long Conor Burke clearance before firing past Jack Dempsey.

Dean Hanley did eventually find the target with a 26th minute free and after Keith O Callaghan pushed a ball out for a 65 Hanley was on hand to fire over Broadford's second.

Leixlip finished the half the stronger and three more Darragh Melville white flags and a fine effort from Cormac Keegan meant Leixlip lead 1-12 to 0-2 at the break.

Sean McManus and Alan Murphy extended the lead within two minutes of the restart before Dean Hanley converted his third placed ball but in all reality Leixlip weren't facing any resistance. Their second goal arrived courtesy of Cormac Keegan on 39 but Darragh Melville, Sean McManus and Ben Travers had all pointed prior to Keegan pushing 20 points clear.

The closing quarter saw Luke Ennis and Eoin Sheehan share four frees between them but Leixlip woukd pick off the next seven scores.

Ben Travers added a third goal and as Melville and McManus pointed the floodgates were about to open.

Darragh Melville hit three goals in a 4 minute spell and the county star would ad a further 1-2 before Eamonn Kelly brought proceedings to a close.

Leixlip will play Clane next and its safe to say they will be in for a far tougher test. Broadford,who had a competitive 2024 will be anxious to address this loss and they will need a win or two to help protect their Senior B status.

LEIXLIP: Keith O Callaghan; Luke Kelly, Ryan Doyle, Dara Mooney; James Canning, Conor Burke 0-1, Jack McGonigle; Sean O Connor, Dylan Doherty; Ben Travers 1-1, Stephen Ryan 0-1, Alan Murphy 0-1; Cormac Keegan 1-2, Sean McManus 1-4, Darragh Melville 4-13 (6 frees,1'65). Subs: Conor Higgins for Jack McGonigle 41.

BROADFORD: Jack Dempsey; Padraic Farrell, Shane Flanagan, Tomas Van Englebrechten; Dean Hanley 0-3 (2 frees,1'65), Killian Galligan, Dan Perry; Kieran Ryan, Calum Flanagan; Aidan Boyle, Eoin Sheehan 0-2 (2 frees), Jordan Cooney; Luke Ennis 0-2 (2 frees), Bernard Reilly, Fionn O Grady. Subs: Joe Canning for Fionn O Grady 58.

REFEREE: Eamonn Kelly

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