Feature Game

KDFL Under 20 Shield Final.

Kilcullen AFC 3 Moone Celtic FC 2

Kilcullen AFC Edge Moone Celtic in Five-Goal Shield Thriller

In a pulsating KDFL U20 Shield final that lived up to the pre-match hype, Kilcullen AFC emerged

victorious with a narrow 3-2 win over Moone Celtic FC.  The match was a relentless, end-to-end

spectacle defined by clinical finishing and heroic goalkeeping at both ends of the pitch.

Moone Celtic started with intent, testing Kilcullen’s shot-stopper Ben Scanlon early through Kyle

Roycroft and Nathan Parr.  However, Kilcullen responded in kind after five minutes when Ryan Brew

fed Josh Kelly, only for Moone’s Jamie Dillon to produce the first of many fine saves. The deadlock

was broken in the 10th minute. A pinpoint delivery from Ryan Murray found Kyle Roycroft, whose

exquisite touch and finish gave Moone a 1-0 lead.  Moone looked likely to double their advantage

shortly after, but Scanlon produced a world-class save in the 18th minute, clawing a goal-bound effort

out of the top corner. The momentum shifted in the 26th minute. Kilcullen earned a corner, and Josh

Kelly’s delivery was met by a thumping back-post header from Kian McNally to level the scores.  Both

sides traded chances—Adam Barry firing wide for Kilcullen and Bradley Guing missing the target for

Moone—before a frantic final few minutes of the half. In the 43rd minute, a quick Kilcullen throw-in

caught Moone sleeping; Kelly turned provider again, finding Daniel Collins who slotted home to make

it 2-1.  The lead was short-lived, however. On the stroke of halftime, a Moone free-kick was parried by

Scanlon, but Venedi Nzau was the sharpest man in the box to tap home the rebound, sending the

sides into the interval at 2-2.

The second half began with a goalmouth scramble in the Kilcullen box, requiring Jay Doyle to clear

the ball off the line.  As the game wore on, both keepers became the protagonists. Jamie Dillon

denied Will Burke and Josh Kelly in quick succession, while Kelly also saw an effort rattle the

woodwork. The game reached a fever pitch in the 65th minute when Moone were awarded a penalty

for handball.  Kyle Roycroft stepped up, but Ben Scanlon guessed correctly to make a massive save. 

In an incredible turn of events just sixty seconds later, Kilcullen were awarded a penalty of their own

at the other end.  Not to be outdone, Jamie Dillon stood tall to save Jay Doyle’s spot-kick, keeping the

game on a knife-edge. With ten minutes remaining, Scanlon again rescued Kilcullen with a diving

save from a Ryan Murray header.  The breakthrough finally came in the 85th minute; Josh Kelly, a

constant threat all afternoon, latched onto a cross to fire Kilcullen into a 3-2 lead. Moone threw

everything forward in the closing stages, but the Kilcullen defence, marshalled by McNally and Doyle,

held firm to secure the Shield silverware. Outstanding performances, Kilcullen AFC The victory was

anchored by a Man of the Match performance from Ben Scanlon, whose penalty save and top-corner

heroics were the difference.  Josh Kelly was the creative engine with a goal and two assists,

while Daniel Collins and Jay Doyle provided the defensive grit necessary to see the game out.

Moone Celtic FC: Jamie Dillon was exceptional in goal, keeping his side in the hunt with a penalty

save and several one-on-one stops.  Venedi Nzau, Daniel Sheehan, and Nathan Parr were also

standout performers in what was a valiant effort from the Moone side.