Ace Sports Awards Masters Cup Final
Ballycane Celtic FC 1 3 Leixlip United FC
(Report by Wayne ‘Bubba’ Doyle)
The Masters Cup Final showcases a match between Leixlip United and the newcomers, Ballycane Celtic. Ballycane Celtic has had an outstanding first season in the Masters' Division 1, securing a commendable top-four finish in the league and also earning a spot in the coveted cup final.
In the quarter-final, the Naas outfit advanced to the next round with a walkover victory against Maynooth Town. Ballycane secured their cup final spot by defeating Straffan 2-0 in the semi-finals.
In contrast, Leixlip United have a distinguished history in this competition. They have been to the final four times, losing to Kildare Town in 2014, before winning the Cup in 2017 against a stacked Naas United outfit. They again showed their pedigree by ousting Newbridge Town in the 2018 final and just Narrowly missed out on a hattrick of Masters Cup final successes as Clane pipped them in the 2019 finale. Leixlip overcame highly fancied Newbridge Town in the quarter-final emphatically before dispatching neighbours Celbridge Town in the semi-finals to book the final spot.
Ballycane Celtic hold a marginal advantage having won the earlier league encounter comfortably enough, with the return fixture yet to be played. That will count for little on the day, as Cup football is unpredictable and usually a cagey affair. Both teams possess a lot of quality in what should be a thrilling Cup final. The venue is Rathcoffey Road Maynooth Town.
It was evident from the opening kick-off that that game was going to be more of a tactical affair, with both sides looking organised and compact in the opening exchanges. The first real sight of goal fell at Keelan Noone's feet after a route one pass from Dermot Doyle; with a mere three minutes played, he found the Ballycane front man with a yard of space. He managed to get a quick shot away, but it never really had Murphy in the Leixlip goal worried. Leixlip with a more patient approach tried to build momentum from the back and moved the ball efficiently, which led to their first opening, when Anthony Doran got down the right flank and produced a teasing cross that flashed across the Ballycane penalty area, Robbie Murtagh popped up at the back post with a glancing header but couldn't direct it goal bound. Leixlip United were causing havoc as they continuously overloaded the Ballycane midfield with Davey Allen, Paul Hartigan, and Mark Cribbon playing a very effective Highline. Ballycane were under a little pressure, but absorbed it admirably, with Mark Whelan, Ciaran Fennell, and Dermot Doyle squashing any real threat in the Cane Rearguard. The Naas outfit was starting to move the ball with much more fluency now, and that immediately paid dividends as Ciaran Fennell picked out Keelan Noone with a perfectly weighted pass; Noone swivelled and worked a yard of space but couldn't keep his effort from flying over the crossbar after fifteen minutes. Graham Keirsey, Glen McCabe and Colm Marry were starting to dictate the midfield for Leixlip with the emphasis on picking out Eamon Lynch who was a constant threat with his movement and willingness to look for the ball. Glen McCabe went close to breaking the deadlock from a twenty-yard set piece after Eamon Lynch was bundled over just outside the penalty area, Aaron Smith was equal to the effort as he got down brilliantly to keep Ballycane on level terms. Ballycane were working tirelessly in midfield, with Mick Shelly doing his part to break up Leixlip's attacks. Stewart O Neill worked Ballycanes best effort as he rolled Mark Ebbs effortlessly on the right wing before skipping by three more Leixlip defenders. The pacy winger looked poised to pull the trigger but slipped a tidy pass to Jamie Gray, who forced Tadhg Murphy into another vital stop. That duo of O Neill and Jamie Gray were starting to open up a stingy Leixlip rearguard, after a sustained spell of pressure from the Naas side, they were caught with a classic counterattack as Colm Marry picked up the ball and sprayed a first time into Anthony Doran who flicked it on to Eamon Lynch the burly frontman took a great first touch beyond the Ballycane rearguard before applying an exquisite chip finish beyond the onrushing Aaron Smith to give Leixlip United the breakthrough eight minutes before the break. Ballycane, not disheartened by the setback, was on the front foot with Jerry Murphy starting to orchestrate the midfield play; Leixlip stood resolute behind Hartigan, Cribbon and Allen and wouldn't be breached this half. It was a closely contested first half, with Leixlip marginally the better side in a tight game.
Ballycane Celtic made some tactical changes at the half, with Mick Shelly making way after a tireless performance and Eamon "Jacko" McCormack entering the fray to bolster the front line. Jerry Murphy picked up where he ended the first half on the offensive, the Ballycane playmaker went close with a freekick that Murphy did well to hold onto in the Leixlip goal five minutes into the second half. Robbie Murtagh was a constant outlet for Leixlip and his linkup play with Eamon Lynch was a danger that couldn't be ignored. Ballycane were well in control in terms of possession but were struggling in their haste to work a clear-cut opportunity against a very compact Leixlip back five and were susceptible to counterattack on occasion. The Naas side was having the majority of their success out wide, with Stewy O Neill and Jamie Gray starting to wear down a stubborn Leixlip defence. Ballycane worked a splendid flowing move when Jamie Gray got down the line after a pinpoint pass by Dermot Doyle. Gray whipped in an excellent ball, and Keelan Noone got a clean header that had Murphy beaten but just flew past the post by a whisker. Leixlip had a good game plan and was lighting quick on the counterattack, but Dermot Doyle mopped up anything that was in his vicinity with a commanding performance from the Centre-half. Ballycane Celtic started to exert a lot of pressure and created a multitude of chances in quick succession with Stewy O Neill, Keelan Noone, and Jerry Murphy all going close but couldn't get that breakthrough goal to get them back in the fixture.
Ballycane were dealt a killer blow after brilliant defending by Doyle, Whelan, and Fennell the ball ricocheted out to Robbie Murtagh who took a quick touch to dig the ball out of his feet and bent a stunning drive off his right boot that left Aaron Smith no chance as it found the top corner to double Leixlip advantage with a little over ten remaining. Both teams made changes, with Al Scott and Ross Cullinane introduced for Leixlip and Veteran striker Richie Mullins on for Ballycane. Mullins made an immediate impact and won his side a penalty as he bravely put his body on the line whilst injuring himself in the process; after a considerable delay, Keelan Noone dispatched the spot kick expertly to give Ballycane a lifeline with two remaining of normal time. The game stretched now Ballycane with no options but to go for broke as they pushed relentlessly for that equaliser, and Leixlip made them pay with another brilliant counter as Al Scott broke through the middle and selflessly squared a pass to Ross Cullinane, who finished well to put the game beyond doubt four minutes into injury time. Ballycane gave a great account of themselves, a commanding second-half display but couldn't get that breakthrough from play they deserved. Leixlip were well organised. They didn't waste much possessions or give up any clear-cut chances and were clinical when the opportunities arose.
Best for Ballycane were Fennell, Whelan, Murphy, Stewy O Neill, Jamie Gray and Dermot Doyle were outstanding. Best for Leixlip were Hartigan, Cribbon Graham Keirsey and Eamon Lynch with Robbie Murtagh putting in a MOTM performance out wide.
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