Leixlip reach the last eight while Nurney are safe despite defeat
Nurney's Andrew Behan is tackled by Leixlip's Tommy Moolick Photo: Sean Brilly
Goals in the last 15 minutes from Jack Barrett, Brian Gibbons and Conor Lawlor helped make it three wins from three for Leixlip in Group D of the National Electrical Wholesalers Intermediate Football Championship as they move saved safely into the quarter-finals, where they will play Milltown.
They scored six points in a row at one stage through the first half and led 0-7 to 0-4 at the break.
Their first goal arrived in the 45th minute when Barrett pounced to score after the impressive Ronan Fitzsimons’ shot fell short.
Corner back Brian Gibbons got forward for their second five minutes later and Conor Lawlor rounded off the goals with an inventive flick to beat Niall Donnelly in the 53rd minute.
Nurney struggled to make an impact going forward in the second half but there was three points, including a fine two pointer, by Theo Hanlon, who earlier this summer represented Ireland at the U20 European Athletics Championships in the shot putt.
The defeat left Nurney anxiously awaiting news from Manguard Park and they got the result they needed there with Suncroft beating Monastervan by 4-14 to 2-13.
That result means that Nurney’s season is over, Suncroft will go on to face Ellistown in the preliminary quarter-finals while Monasterevan finish bottom of the group and will contest the relegation final.
Niall McConnell; Brian Gibbons 1-0, Ryan Doyle, Sean Enghlishby, Rory Flynn, Jack Travers, Ciaran Silke 0-1; Ronan Fitzsimons 0-5 (1tp), Darren McDermott; Ben Travers, Tommy Moolick 0-1m, Paddy Meagher, Conor Lawlor 1-3, Jack Barrett 1-5 (1tpf), Luke Mahon. Subs: Kevin Conneely for Englishby, h/t; James Killeen for B Travers, 45; Eamon Murphy 0-2 for Meagher, 50; Ciaran Fadian for Meagher, 51; Dave Curley for Flynn, 53.
Niall Donnelly; Daragh Conway, John Merrins, Eoghan Fitzpatrick, Tadhg Hagney, Hayden Weldon, Ciaran Callan; Adam Talbot, Damien Berns; Daniel Kealey, Theo Hanlon 0-3 (1tp), Brian Reilly, Sean Murphy, Mikey Conway 0-4 (1tpf, 2fs), Andrew Behan 0-3 (1tp, 1f). Subs: Steven Conway for Kealey, h/t; Darren Byrne for Talbot, h/t; Owen Kealy for Callan, 41; Kevin Conway for Berns, 51; Jessie Moore for Weldon, 60.
Paul Donnelly.
