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Leixlip edge it but football the real winner”
You might think the last thing you want to do on a Bank Holiday Monday is watch a football game but if you were at Leixlips AWP last Monday you got a wonderful nights entertainment where both teams on display showed how football should be played.
On what was a lovely spring evening it was Celtic who started best – passing the ball with purpose and accuracy on the excellent surface. Antonio Neto and Mark Hughes provided the work rate and craft while Messrs Collins, Mc Donagh and Nolan showed the quality out wide. The Leixlip defence was being well marshalled limiting Leigh Reilly and Kian Ryan to only half chances. Corners rained in from Hughes but again Leixlip cleared their lines. As the half wore on Leixlip started to get to grips with game and gave a warning sign when awarded a free kick that brought an excellent scrambling save from Tommy Bowe. Minutes later Tommy again made an excellent stop but this time the Leixlip player was declared offside. While Celtic continued to dominate but their cause was hampered when Kiano limped off with a groin strain. HT: 0-0
At half time Leixlip made some changes to bolster their midfield in an attempt to deny Celtic possession. The tactic work as Celtic did not enjoy the same dominance as the first half. In turn Leixlip were seeing more of the ball and it was became clear a goal could be decisive. With 15 minutes of the half gone Celtic were punished, not for the first time this season, with a defensive error that allowed the Leixlip striker to break. However it was far from an easy chance and credit to the Leixlip striker for a polished finish. 1-0.
The goal rocked Celtic back and in turn Leixlips confidence rose as they started to display some quality passing. The teams were nullifying each other and it was only in the last 5 minutes that Celtic created their best chances with Mc Donagh, Reilly and Collins all coming close. With two minutes left Hughes hit a drive from all of 30 yards that forced the impressive Leiclip stopper to dive low to his right to parry the ball away where it just evaded the on running Mc Donagh. FT: 0-1
Well done to Leixlip who weathered the Celtic storm in the first half. They are a nice footballing team that looked to pass the ball and work hard. They took their chance when it came a long and their strong finish to their league campaign serves notice that they will be a major force next year. For Celtic it really is a case that when your on a poor run things don’t go your way. After a horrific run of injuries they had their squad back in full on Monday and it showed. It was a display to be proud of and how they have lost to Kevins and Leixlip over the last two games is a mystery. Still this was an excellent display and if they can bring it into their next 6 games then the Coaches will be more than happy. A bit more savvy, a bit more clinical finishing and a bit more luck then the Celts will be right back where they should be.
