By Tommy Callaghan

THERE was no doubting Kilcullen's dogged determination, total commitment and eagerness to triumph in Sunday's Leinster Leader Cup Final. However, when push came to shove there was also no doubting the class of Moorefield and their ability to dig deep and come up with the right results when the heat was really on. This game was won and lost in the dying minutes of the opening half and the opening moments of the restart. With the Rags leading by four heading for the break points from wing back Alan Melia and a beauty from under the stand by Martin Murray left just a couple of white flags between the sides. Then within a minute of the restart it was full forward Cian O’Neill who capitalised on some confusion in the Kilcullen defence to pounce for an opportunistic goal that really brought the Moors to life. To their credit Kilcullen did not lie down but from that point on they were always chasing. They had a couple of goal chances but failed to take them, Moorefield had a couple and took them and that in the end was the difference between the sides in a hard fought and exciting game.

LEINSTER LEADER CUP FINAL 2001

Moorefield 2-06

Kilcullen 0-09

By Paul O'Meara in St.Conleths Park

It may have been the last significant senior football fixture this side of Christmas but that didnt mean that Moorefield had to be all charitable and play the role of Santa Claus. For them it was the final opportunity to take a title at the end of a disappointing season and they were ruthless and efficient enough to do it.The disappointment of losing their senior championship title to Sarsfields was thus diluted just a bit and they can look forward to 2002 in a much more positive frame of mind. Kilcullen came up against a side determind not to embrace a losing habit.Kilcullen will have to wait at least one more year  to win the Leinster Leader Cup but they were in credit before setting out for Newbridge on Sunday last. In the last few years they have won Kildare junior title, intermediate titles, a Leinster Junior title and this year they defeated St.Laurences in the S.F.C before giving Sarsfields a run for their money in the quarter final.They were always going to be up for this final and like Ireland against New Zealand is Saturday’s rugby international they started like they meant business. But they were eventually reeled in and like the good team they are Moorefield never lost control of the game once the finishing post appeared in sight. It took Moorefield a while to get going and this made their performance all the more impressive. For the first 25 minutes they could muster just one score and that came from a free by patrick Murray. Then defender Alan Melia scored but only one of their forwards scored from play before the break and at half time they were two points behind.Ronan Sweeney and Sean Whyte were working hard in the middle of the field but the Moorefield attacks especially their full forward line made little impression against the tight and enthusiastic marking of the Kilcullen defence. With John Whyte playing a defensive role and with just two forwards up front for a lot of the time for Kilcullen there was a lot of congestion around the middle although it didn't have a negative impact on the quality of the football. After just six minute Kilcullen led by 0-03 to no score. Alan Murphy opened with a free and then Cormac Aspell, who had a very fine first half scored in the 6th and the 6th - the latter coming courtesy of a great kicked pass from John O'Brien. Murphy and Aspell added frees in the 18^th and 23rd and Kilcullen led by 0-5 to 0-1 - their biggest lead all afternoon. Alan Melia lifted some of the gloom that had descended on Moorefield with a good point under pressure in the 25th. Sweeney missed a free in reply but then made a good catch in the middle and laid the ball off to Martin Murray whose point from the sideline was the best of the game. Kilcullen started the second half leading by 0-5 to 0-3 but found themselves in trouble after 53 seconds after Cian O'Neill thumped an airborne ball past Jamie Lambe and into the Kilcullen net. Moorefield hardly deserved to be ahead but they were always more Likely to score goals. John O’Brien had a chance of a goal but Padraig Canavan stopped the powerful shot and defected it over the bar. They took the lead once more when Shane Lambe scored but suffered a second setback in the 39th when O'Neill got a second goal, which he kicked from close range after Michael Ryan brought the ball along the sideline. Man of the match Patrick Murray Pointed from play on either side of the goal and their advantage was set in cement. John Whyte was close enough for a goal when he pointed the 46th and with ten minutes remaining Cormac Aspell had them a point in arrears with a free. Kilcullen needed a goal to win and after Murray scored again they needed goal to draw it but their goal chances had already come and gone and Moorefield were not to be caught. Patrick Murray was Moorefield's best player and there were also good Performances from Cian O'Neill, Ronan Sweeney, Les Hogan and Kenny Duane. Cormac Aspell and John O'Brien were outstanding for Kilcullen and others to perform well were Shane Lambe, Fergus Aspell and John Whyte.

  Moorefield: Padraig Canavan, Padraig Flynn, Martin Ryan (capt), James Lonergan, Alan Melia (0-1), Les Hogan, Kenny Duane, Sean Whyte, Ronan Sweeney, Patrick Murray (0-4,1 free) Sos Dowling, Michael Ryan, Frank Hanniffy, Cian O’Neill (2-0) and Martin Murray (0-01). Subs: Bernard Behan for Martin Murray and Kevin O’Neill for Frank Hanniffy.

Kilcullen: Jamie Lambe, Ronan Aspell, David Gibson, Paul Coffey, Ian Barker, Fergus Aspell (capt), Ger Shanahan, Mick Williams, Paschal England, Alan Murphy (0-2, 1 free), John Whyte (0-1), John O’Brien (0-1), Cormac Aspell (0-4, 2 fees), Shane Lambe (0-1) and Paul Maher Subs: Christopher Howard for John whyte.