Leixlip pip Milltown in IFC semi-final cracker
Trailing by three points at the break, Leixlip brilliantly fought back to book their spot in this year's final
Leixlip 1-12
Milltown 1-10
It was Leixlip who booked their place in this year’s Auld Shebeen Athy Intermediate Football Championship Final with a thrilling win over Milltown.
In a week dominated by the various potential rule changes in Gaelic football, Leixlip and Milltown served up superb entertainment in this semi-final amongst the current restrictions.
It was the first minute to last too with Milltown grabbing a goal in the opening throws of the game.
Shane Daly took aim at the posts, but his effort dropped well short and bounced in front of Niall McConnell. The Leixlip stopper was rising to the bouncing ball when Patrick Donohue nipped in to slap it away from him and subsequently found the net.
Three minutes later Leixlip had a chance to level from the spot when Ben Travers was brought down by Shane Daly.
Tommy Moolick, who has scored four penalties already this year, stepped up but was brilliantly denied by Omar Dunne low to his right.
Milltown pushed four clear through Joe Dunne before three Leixlip points on the spin brought them back into this game. Two Jack Barrett frees and a fine curling score from Ben Travers.
Patrick Donohue doubled his side’s advantage before Alan Dignam got his first of the afternoon to make this game 1-3 to 0-3 on the quarter of the hour mark.
Dignam got his second five minutes later, a superb score off his instep that landed just over the bar.
Jack Barrett matched that fine score at the other end with one of his own, but Milltown were still looking the better of these two sides.
A superb team move that ended in the hands of Ben Heuston was followed by a score from Joe Dunne after a brilliant win in midfield by Colin O’Shea.
Tommy Moolick made this a four-point game with an excellent score from distance four minutes before the break.
Liam Kelly grabbed Milltown’s seventh point of the day.
Ben Travers responded for Leixlip before Moolick turned provider for his midfield partner Ronan Fitzsimons, who fired over superbly from range.
That score was the last of the half and it left Milltown with a 1-7 to 0-7 lead at the break.
Milltown remained the outstanding side after the break as they continued to maintain controlled and penetrative possession.
After Conor Sheerin put Milltown four clear, an underperforming Leixlip were ignited when they found the net themselves.
Ronan Fitzsimons sent a long ball in that Paddy Meagher and Milltown ‘keeper rose for. The ball escaped both and bounced in front of a delighted Jack Barrett, who punched it into an empty net.
The goal shook Milltown and their patient possession was replaced by hasty balls into the forward line.
Leixlip hit the next three points in this game to put themselves two clear.
Conor Sheerin made this a one-point game again before Alan Dignam forced Niall McConnell to find his own net with swarming pressure after a high ball. Milltown celebrations were cut short by the referee’s whistle, who judged that the corner-forward challenged McConnell inside the small square. A decision of much debate.
Jack Barrett made this a two-point game with five to go.
Milltown’s chances took a hit when Liam Kelly received a red card for a combination of a yellow and a black in the 57th minute.
A superb Colin O’Shea score off the outside of his boot made this a one-point game again.
Milltown had two efforts to level this game in added time, but saw their shots drift wide of either post. Both of which should have perhaps been re-evaluated before being taken.
Eamonn Murphy got the game’s final score on the counter to send his side into the IFC final with a 1-12 to 1-10 win.
MAIN MAN
Jack Barrett
Despite some free-kick struggles, Jack Barrett was undeniably one of the men to stand up and be counted for Leixlip in this game. The tricky forward score 1-6 of his side's 1-12 total, with the goal turning this game on its head. Unlucky for this award were Leixlip midfielders Tommy Moolick and Ronan Fitzsimons after their brilliant second half displays turned the tide in this game.
TURNING POINT
Jack Barrett's goal inspired Leixlip and shook a previously composed Milltown. The green flag in the 38th minute launched the Leixlip fightback.
TALKING POINT
Huge credit has to go to Milltown and Darren O'Shea, not only for reaching a semi-final after coming up from Junior, but playing some of the best football in this year's Championship.
WHAT NOW?
Leixlip have an eight-day turn around and will face Caragh to decide the winner of this year's Intermediate Football Championship and which of the finalists will return to Senior football.
Scorers: Leixlip, Jack Barrett 1-6 (0-4 frees), Ben Travers 0-2, Ronan Fitzsimons 0-2, Tommy Moolick 0-1, Eamonn Murphy 0-1.
Milltown, Patrick Donohue 1-1 (0-1 frees), Joe Dunne 0-2, Conor Sheerin 0-2 (0-2 frees), Alan Dignam 0-2, Ben Heuston 0-1, Liam Kelly 0-1, Colin O'Shea 0-1.
LEIXLIP: Niall McConnell; Ciaran Fadian, Ryan Doyle, Kevin Conneely; Jack Quinn, Jack Travers, Darren O'Connor; Tommy Moolick, Ronan Fitzsimons; Ben Travers, Luke Mahon, Paddy Meagher; Jack Barrett, Darren McDermott, Eamonn Murphy. Subs: Darragh Melville for Luke Mahon (36 minutes), Rory Flynn for Ciaran Fadian (40 minutes), Liam Mahon for Ryan Doyle (44 minutes), Ciaran Silke for Darren McDermott (59 minutes), Sean Jeffrey for Darren O'Connor (64 minutes).
MILLTOWN: Omar Dunne; Jamie Cross, Cian Buckley, Sean Murphy; Shane Daly, Liam Kelly, Aaron Jacob; Colin O'Shea, Conor Sheerin; Ben Heuston, Hugh Hamilton, Patrick Donohue; Alan Dignam, Joe Dunne, Ben Curran. Subs: Aaron Walker for Ben Heuston (44 minutes).
Referee: Damien Whelan