Post date: Mar 5, 2012 1:04:47 AM
Cúchulainn Gaels under 14’s continued their good run of form with an excellent win over Leixlip at a sunny, but chilly, Kildangan on Sunday morning.
Having beaten Round Towers the previous week confidence was high, however Leixlip were a tough proposition, but one that our lads were certainly up for. Despite fielding without a number of players, the Gaels still fielded a reasonably strong team and were two points up before the visitors got going. Leixlips reply was swift and deadly as they scored a long range point followed by an unstoppable shot to the net from their physically imposing full forward; who wouldn’t look out of place on a senior team.
The Gaels showed their character by scoring the next four points from JB Murphy, Cormac O’Mahoney and Robert Hanley, all playing brilliantly. During this time Callum Sourke, Jordan Kaye and Gavin Coakley performed heroically in the Gaels defence, refusing to allow the visitors a shot at goal. The half time whistle sounded with the Gaels leading 0.6 to 1.1.
On the restart the Gaels resumed where they left off when JB Murphy goaled to stretch the lead. Leixlip were then reduced to 14 players when their wing back received a straight red for a punch on Robert McGrath. Defenders Luke Barry, Enda McSweeney and Stephen Keogh frustrated the Leixlip attack and drove through the middle at every opportunity. The visitor’s goalkeeper stopped two goal chances before a goalmouth scramble ended up in the net with Fergal O’Mahoney claiming the final touch. Meanwhile, at the other end, Goalkeeper Daniel Cawley was in top form making a number of fantastic saves as Leixlip pushed hard to get back into the game. Two pointed frees from Robert McGrath followed by another from Cormac O’Mahoney put the Gaels well out of sight before Ryan Moran finished off with a superb goal to leave the final score 3.09 to 1.01 in favour of the home side.If you wanted to pick a man of the match you would have to list all 15 players, this was a fantastic team effort where every player stood up to the task and gave their all. Suncroft provide the opposition in the final game of the Group stage next Sunday.