Feature game

Ace Sports Awards Masters Cup (Semi Final) 

(By Wayne ‘Bubba’ Doyle)

Ballycane Celtic FC 1 Leixlip United FC 4

After a disappointing end to a promising LFA Cup run last weekend, Ballycane turned their attention to domestic competitions, welcoming Leixlip United to Naas for a semi-final showdown, where Coill Dubh will await the winners. Honours even between these two sides thus far this season with both sides winning their home fixture in the league campaign. Making this a finely poised Cup draw.

A cagey opening to this cup semi-finals as expected, with Leixlip United showing the more attacking impetus as Adam Chemaou and Eamon Lynch combined well to force Finbar Furey into an early save. Ballycane found themselves on the back foot and struggled collectively to stop an early barrage as Leixlip moved the ball well out from the back causing havoc with their additional overloads outwide. For all the early pressure exerted by the visitors, they were reduced to a couple of long-range efforts that never really troubled Finbar Furey. The Ballycane defensive unit of Cillian Sweeney, Kevin Higgins, Derdy Doyle and Owen Giblin put in a commendable early performance to keep Leixlip at bay. Ballycane had their first sight on goal after eight minutes, when Stewy O'Neill got a good effort off that just whizzed past Tadhg Murphy's post and wide after a good decoy run from Wayne Doyle, opening up the space. 

Ballycane broke the deadlock after eleven minutes with an incisive bit of football. Cillian Sweeney, picking up the ball at right full-back, clipped a pinpoint pass into the path of Jonny Finnegan, who made a perfectly timed run. Finnegan showed a great turn of pace as he powered by Mark Cribben and kept his composure to finish well past Murphy. That early setback didn't deter Lexlip as they continued to be patient playing some fluent football out from the back, with Graham Keirsey, Robbie Murtagh and Niall Smith all seeing a lot of the ball, but again Ballycane stood steadfast defensively getting the vital interceptions to nullify the threats. It was Ballycane who could have grabbed the second goal with a sublime counterattack. After Jonny Finnegan picked up the ball deep in his own half and played a ball through to Wayne Doyle, who raced clear and rounded Niall Smith before laying a pass to Jamie Gray, who was under serious pressure but got a shot away that just flew over the crossbar to let Lexlip off the hook.

Jamie Curran, Jerry Murphy, and Wayne Doyle got through a colossal workload in midfield, with Stewy O'Neill and Jamie Gray also fulfilling their defensive duties. Leixlip United finished the half strong as Ross Cullinane and Robbie Murtagh put in some excellent crosses, with Eamon Lynch, Chemaou and Ryan all going close to levelling the game, but the home side stood resolute and went into the break with a slender lead.

Leixlip United immediately pushed the tempo from the start of the second half, but again, Kevin Higgins, Derdy, Cillian and Michael Shelly were in terrific form to deny the visitors. The defensive effort from Ballycane was praiseworthy, but the effort was unsustainable and Leixlip managed to level the game in a somewhat scrappy manner as Ballycane's half-cleared effort fell to Graham Keirsey whose effort deflected off Jamie Curran and passed Finbar Furey with five minutes played in the second half a tad lucky, but it was coming for the visitors irrespective of the manner. Ballycane, unfortunately, lost Derdy Doyle through injury, with Owen Giblin stepping back into partner Kevin Higgins at the Centre-half. 

Adam Chemaou led the line brilliantly for Leixlip, and his ability to hold the ball up and bring his wingers, Murtagh and Ryan, into play was top-notch. Mick Shelly played some fantastic ball up the left wing, whilst being defensively astute. It was Leixlip, though, who got that crucial second goal, and truthfully, only Robbie Murtagh knows if his effort from wide right was a cross or a shot; either way, the result was the same, as it found the top right-hand corner of Finbar Furey's goal to give the visitors the lead just shy of the hour mark. A goal that really deflated the home side's resolve. Ballycane were hit a with another sucker punch three minutes later as Ross Cullinane launched a missile long throw that took a wicked bounce that deceived the Ballycane rearguard and fell kindly to Adam Chemaou to dispatch from four yard to double Leixlip advantage. 

Jerry Murphy, Jamie Gray and Jonny Finnegan pushed Ballycane forward but they couldn't carve out that clear cut opening, as Mark Cribben, Smith and Karl Ebbs were equally impressive for Leixlip defensively. Leixlip added a fourth goal with five minutes remaining as substitute Muhamed Bentouila launched a fairly innocuous clearance that was booted skywards at the vital moment, Furey in the Ballycane goal was hesitant in claiming the high ball, and sustained an injury in the process, allowing the ball to bounce haplessly into the Ballycane net to deliver the knockout blow. The home side did have one final effort with a Jonny Finnegan free kick that didn't trouble Tadhg Murphy.

Ballycane again found themselves in a precarious position again in a massive game with a host of injuries to vital players not ideal but regardless, a valiant effort from the Naas men, and they have nothing to be abashed about. Leixlip United played some smashing football, their movement, patience and pressure had the home side on the back foot for the majority of the game and were just too much for Ballycane today as a bumptious Leixlip deservedly take their spot in the Division One Master Cup Final . Best for Ballycane were Derdy Doyle and Owen Giblin in defence were superb , Wayne Doyle & Jamie Curran put in a big shift in midfield 

Stewy O'Neill and Johnny Finnegan worked tirelessly in the attack.  Best for Leixlip 

Mark Cribben, Niall Smith, Ross Cullinane in defence, Robbie Murtagh on the wing, Adam Chemaou and Eamon Lynch combined well in attack. MotM Graham Keirsey in the Centre midfield was outstanding.