Magical Martin helps Suncroft stun Leixlip
Suncroft players swarm all over Leixlip's Luke Mahon, typical of their performance throughout. Photo: Aisling Hyland
Suncroft caused a huge upset when they had four points to spare over a more fancied Leixlip outfit in Round 1 of the National Wholesale Electrical Intermediate Football Championship in Clane on Saturday afternoon.
Despite injuries to four regulars Leixlip had late chances to grab a victory from the jaws of defeat but the ‘Croft weren't to be denied and a late burst of scores from the Martin brothers, Tom and Hugh, and a goal from Conn Kehoe was enough to see Suncroft record a well-deserved and important win.
Leixlip finished the game with 14 men after Darren McDermott picked up a straight red for an off the ball incident involving Kehoe but their race had been run at that stage.
After narrowly missing out on promotion from Division 4 of the league this year, Suncroft put that disappointment behind them to take the game to Leixlip, who were promoted to Division 1 this year, in the early stages.
Tom Martin fisted over an opening minute point after he raced in along the endline. Leixlip responded almost immediately when dangerous corner forward Conor Lawlor repeated Martin's feat with a fisted point of his own but he had to work hard for space before landing the leveller.
Suncroft lined out from the start with three championship debutants and it rose to four before the games conclusion. It was one of those debutants, Hugh Martin who lit up the opening half.
Martin, a member of the Leinster winning U20's Kildare squad this year, was a breath of fresh air to the ‘Croft attack. After Sam Murphy was hauled down by Leixlip goalkeeper Niall McConnell seven minutes in , Martin stepped up to take the penalty. His effort was saved by McConnell but Martin was first to reach the rebound and managed to fire the ball home.
Leixlip had a battle on their hands but they responded with points from Dan Gallery and Jack Lawlor. The men in maroon have a habit of hitting early goals but the Suncroft rearguard kept them at bay and they failed to hit the target once over the hour.
Suncroft’s second goal arrived when a long kickout from Ciaran Troy found Kehoe who off loaded to Tom Martin who then sent brother Hugh in on goal and after a lovely flick up, he fired home a brilliant goal from all of 20 metres.
Leixlip responded with a Jack Lawlor free to reduce the gap to three but Suncroft were growing in confidence and when Fionn Dowling landed a two-point free and another free a minute later after Hugh Martin was brought down, the 6 point gap gave the ‘Croft players the belief.
Jack Lawlor was proving to be Leixlip's main scorer and two points, one from a free, before the break gave them hope.
Hugh Martin was causing Leixlip plenty of problems and when he was brought down again Fionn Dowling landed the free to send Suncroft to the dressing rooms 2-5 to 0-6 ahead.
Dowling didn’t return after the break and coupled with the earlier loss of Jack Setright Suncroft had lost two of their more experienced performers.
Leixlip started the half on the front foot and Darren McDermott's two-pointer was quickly followed by a free from the same player. Conor Lawlor reduced the gap to the minimum and Leixlip were starting to look lie the likely winners.
Hugh Martin eased the pressure with a 30 metre effort but the respite was short-lived as another Darren McDermott free was followed by the leveller from Luke Mahon with 12 minutes to play.
In the absence of the departed Dowling, Hugh Martin assumed free-taking responsibilities for ‘Croft and raised a white flag but Lawlor restored parity a minute later.
Despite Leixlip getting back on level terms Suncroft kept driving forward and when Chris Phillps put Tom Martin into space the midfielder's pass allowed Conn Kehoe in on goal and he made no mistake for a third Suncroft goal.
It was all out attack from Leixlip after that but they lacked composure and the yawning gaps they left at the back allowed Hugh Martin to land his third point.
Tom Martin and Jack Lawlor swapped late points before Darren McDermott got his marching orders and after nearly six minutes of injury time the final whistle sounded to confirm their most impressive Championship win for many years.
Ciaran Troy; Sean Malone, Conor Kiely, Arthur Bailey, Daragh Malone, Chris Phillips, Jack Setright; Conn Kehoe 1-0, Tom Martin 0-2; Senan Brannock, Hugh Martin 2-3 (1f), Adam Talbot, Sam Murphy, Eoghan Lawless, Fionn Dowling 0-4 (1tpf, 2f).
Seamus Murphy for Sethright, 25; Jack Doyle for Dowling, h/t; Mark Brown for Lawless, B/S 44-48; Mark Brown for Talbot, 54.
Niall McConnell, Sean O’Connor, Ryan Doyle, Kevin Conneely, Rory Flynn, Brian Gibbons, James Killeen; Dan Gallery 0-1, Ciaran Silke; Luke Mahon 0-1,Jack Lawlor 0-6 (4f), Darragh Melville, Mark O’Toole, Darren McDermott 0-4 (1tp, 2f) ,Conor Lawlor 0-2.
Tom Gibbons for Dan Gallery, B/S 27-30; Rob Tone for O’Toole, 45; Eamon Murphy for Mahon, 56; Liam Weldrick for Killeen, 56.
Ray Kelly.
