MOOREFIELD ................... 2-11

CARBURY........................... 2-5

By Tommy Callaghan

in Conneff Park, Clane

SENIOR champions Moorefield remain firmly on course for the magical league and championship double with this fully deserved six point win over Carbury in the Leinster Leader Cup semi-final played at a bright. sunny, if bitterly cold, Conneff Park, Clane on Sunday.

It was an extremely competitive match with some patches of excellent football despite the very heavy pitch conditions. The winners always seemed to have that little bit of extra power but nevertheless failed to put away their opponents who fought right to the final whistle.

Micheal Ryan was in top form for Moorefield and he gave the Carbury defence much to ponder, particularly in the opening half.

Colm O’Reilly and the aforementioned Ryan scored the opening five points between them within twelve minutes; a free and a 45 from the Carbury man with the Moorefield wing forward converting two frees and a point from play.

Kenny Duane, who made up a very strong half back line with Leslie Hogan and Jim Bob Murphy, got the first of his two points midway through the half and with Micheal Ryan and Brian McGrogan adding two more to leave Moorefield leading 0-6 to 0-2 it looked like the Newbridge side were in for a comfortable afternoon.

Carbury, however, struck back with an excellent goal after twenty. A poor clearance went to Colm O’Reilly who found Dermot Moore inside the defence and he hit an unstoppable shot past Pauric Canavan in the Moorefield goal.

This score certainly lifted the boys in the famous blue and yellow. Having played second fiddle for much of the game they suddenly came to life. Damien Crinnigan levelled up matters a minute later storming through the middle for an excellent point.

Moorefield hit back just before the break and got two vital scores. The first, a great Kenny Duane effort set up by Ronan Sweeney and the last one of the half a Patrick Murray free which left the score at the break reading Moorefield 0-8 Carbury 1-3.

Moorefield had dominated much of that opening half but their full forward line in particular was firing blanks while Dermot Moore’s goal certainly brought the Carbury lads right back into a game that seemed to be going away from them from an early stage.

Carbury began the second half as if they really meant business, however, three wides on the trot did not help their cause. Eventually it was Colm O’Reilly who reduced the deficit with a free following a foul on Damian Crinnigan.

Micheal Ryan again put two between them as the Carbury defence found it as difficult in this half to curtail the flying winger as they had in the opening period.

Patrick Murray added two more points (one a free) before Brian McGrogan - poacher supreme - was on hand to finish off a Kevin O’Neill effort to the net.

McGrogan was fortunate that for some reason that defies logic the umpires totally ignored the fact that the Moorefield man was without question in the square; the goal stood much to the anger of the Carbury defence who justifiably were insensed by an extremely poor decision.

Within a minute Kevin O’Neill very nearly added another goal. However, this time Pat Grace, who had a good game, made a great save to deny the Moorefield man.

Carbury refused to die. Colm O’Reilly made it 1-5 to 1-11 before Pauric Canavan came to Moorefield’s rescue knocking out a goal effort for a 45.

Back came Carbury again and it was full forward Terry Rossiter who eventually found the net after a move involving four players.

Moorefield however were not done and immediately went up the field where Seanie White found Patrick Murray with a brilliant pass and the no. 10 made no mistake from close range to leave the final score reading Moorefield 2-11 Carbury 2-5.

A good game by two surprisingly fit teams for this time of the year. Moorefield always seemed to have that little bit extra in hand when it was needed. The defence as a whole played well snuffing out their immediate opponents; midfield was adequate while some changes in the second half improved their strike rate. Best throughout the hour was Martin Ryan, Leslie Hogan, Kenny Duane, Seanie White, Patrick Murray and man of the match Micheal Ryan.

Colm O’Reilly was prominent for Carbury and had a ding-dong battle with Leslie Hogan; Pat Grace and Sean McLoughlin did well, Damien Crinnigan had some fine moments while Dermot Moore’s goal was a real beauty.

Moorefield now take on St. Laurences in the Leader Cup final - the Larries having defeated Kilcock by three points.

Moorefield: Pauric Canavan; Podge O’Flynn, Martin Ryan, Seamus Murray; Jim Bob Murphy, Leslie Hogan, Kenny Duane 0-2; Ronan Sweeney, Seanie White; Patrick Murray 1-3 (3 frees), Kevin O’Neill, Micheal Ryan 0-6 (3 frees), Brian McGrogan 1-1, Martin Murray, Cian O’Neill. Subs: Paul Potts for Martin Murray (38th minute); Robbie Delaney for Cian O’Neill (42nd minute); Declan Ryan for Jim Bob Murphy (50th minute).

Carbury: Mick Byrne; Gary Mangan, Sean McLoughlin, Pat Grace; Peter O’Reilly, John Kenny, David Kelly; Frank Kennedy, Damien Crinnigan 0-1 Paud O’Neill, Colm O’Reilly 0-4 (2 frees, 45), Gary Prendergast; Dermot Moore 1-0, Terry Rossiter 1-0, Tom Sullivan. Subs: Colm Kearney for Paud O’Neill (33rd minute); Kevin Kelly for Gary Prendergast (42nd minute); Tom Fox for Colm O’Reilly and Brian Moore for Tom Sullivan (55th minute).

Referee: Liam Herbert (Sallins).