Moolick in top form for Leixlip
THE AULD SHEBEEN IFC, GROUP A, ROUND 3
LEIXLIP 5-13
CARAGH 2-11
Daire Walsh at Manguard Plus, Hawkfield
Tommy Moolick was in superb form at the Kildare GAA Centre of Excellence in Hawkfield on Saturday when Leixlip booked their spot in the Intermediate Football Championship quarter-finals with a commanding Group A win against Caragh.
A towering presence throughout the game, Moolick – who announced his inter-county retirement last December after just under 10 years of service with the Lilywhites – contributed an outstanding haul of 2-6 to earn his side runners-up in the table. Darren McDermott, Brian Claffey and Luke Mahon also chipped in with goals as Leixlip progressed to a last-eight meeting with Ballyteague in fine style.
The winners couldn’t have asked for a better start as McDermott shook the net with just 12 seconds gone on the clock. Moolick added his first point of the tie before a minute had elapsed, but Caragh came roaring into the contest with a goal of their own from Jake Corrigan.
Moolick and Dan Lynam went on to trade points in advance of Moolick flicking a Claffey delivery past opposition netminder Lorcan Behan in the 12th-minute. With Jack Barrett, Paddy Meagher and Claffey raising white flags to supplement a brace of Moolick points, Leixlip were in the driving seat heading towards the interval.
Eoghan O’Haire’s dead-ball accuracy meant Caragh were just four adrift (2-7 to 1-6) at this stage, but Leixlip powered forward on the resumption. Thanks to Claffey and Mahon goals in the 36th and 38th minutes respectively, Leixlip were a step closer to the victory they craved.
An Austin Nevin three-pointer on 40 minutes added renewed life to the Caragh challenge, but Moolick’s palmed finish off a Brian Gibbons pass eight minutes later effectively placed the outcome beyond doubt.
Darragh Swords was one of Caragh’s best performers on the day and kicked four points in the second half alone. As well as the triumvirate of Claffey, Mahon and Moolick, Barrett (two), McDermott and substitute Eamon Murphy registered scores to propel Leixlip towards a double figure triumph.
Scorers: Leixlip: Tommy Moolick 2-6, Darren McDermott, Brian Claffey 1-1 each, Luke Mahon 1-0, Jack Barrett 0-3 (2 frees), Eamon Murphy (’45’), Paddy Meagher 0-1 each.
Caragh: Darragh Swords 0-5 (3 frees), Jake Corrigan 1-1 (0-1 mark), Eoghan O’Haire 0-3 (2 frees), Austin Nevin 1-0, Kevin Connor, Dan Lynam 0-1 each.
LEIXLIP: Niall McConnell; Eanna McHugh, Jack Quinn, Kevin Conneely; Liam Mahon, Brian Gibbons, Ciaran Fadian; Brian Claffey, Daniel Gallery; Darren O’Connor, Darren McDermott, Paddy Meagher; Luke Mahon, Tommy Moolick, Jack Barrett. Subs: Ronan Fitzsimons for Gallery (41), Sean Englishby for Gibbons, Niall White for O’Connor (both 47), Eamon Murphy for Barrett (53), Ben Travers for Meagher (56).
CARAGH: Lorcan Behan; Mattie McNally, Eoghan Garry, Cathal McKennedy; Conor Murphy, Paul Dockery, Ryan Burke; Kevin Connor, Eoghan O’Haire; Darragh Swords, Dan Lynam, Daniel Murray; Dominic Campbell, Jake Corrigan, Austin Nevin. Subs: Joe Barrett for Murphy (41), Mikie Behan for Campbell (44), Joe Barrett for Murray (47), Kevin Dempsey for Garry (56).
REFEREE: Lee Moore.