KDFL Under 20 Division 1
Kill Celtic FC 2 Moone Celtic FC 5
Moone Celtic made the trip to Kill for their KDFL Div 1 U20 league fixture on Saturday afternoon and left with all three points following a game with plenty of chances for both teams. Following the overnight rain the pitch itself was soft but credit to Kill, it was able for this game. Both teams started brightly with Kill winning the first corners of the game early on but it was Moone who had the first shot in earnest when a cross from Evan Farrell over the Kill defence was whipped back across the Kill goals by Owen Fox but his shot went narrowly wide. Less than a minute later Callum Kelly found himself clear in the Kill penalty area but his shot hit the crossbar and over.
Kill pressed hard and had goal bound shots either side of an Evan Farrell effort for Moone but with good work from both defences and goalkeepers the score remained nil all up to the 28th minute. Jake Muldowney was dictating the tempo of the game for Moone in midfield while upfront in the soft conditions Callum Kelly, Owen Fox and Evan Farrell were keeping the Kill defence on their toes. In a reshuffled defence for Moone, Tadgh Phelan and Bradley Guing in particular were resolute in keeping Kill at bay.
On 28 minutes, Charlie O'Connor's corner was met by the head of Jake Muldowney who's strong header flew just inside the post and Moone were one up. Moone had the upper hand at this stage and were dominating the exchanges. Kill had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping it at one nil with a fantastic save with his feet from an Owen Fox effort soon after but he could do nothing about Callum Kelly extending Moone's lead on 32 minutes when he cut in from the right along the end line and his shot deceived everyone who all thought he would cross but instead shot low and hard into the opposite corner. Moone were rampant at this stage and went three up on 36 minutes when Charlie O'Connor finished with a superb volley from 20 yards following good work from Evan Farrell, Callum Kelly and Bradley Guing on the right. On 38 minutes Moone could've extended their lead further when Evan Farrell was brought down for a penalty but Tadgh Phelan's effort was well saved by the Kill Keeper. But Moone got their fourth just before half time when Sam McCann's clearance was flicked on by Evan Farrell to the goalward bound Owen Fox who lobbed the onrushing Kill keeper to make it four nil.
On the change of ends, Kill were a different proposition in the second half and put it up to Moone from the off, hitting the cross bar and shooting wide. However Moone struck first after five minutes of the second half when another Charlie O'Connor corner was met again by Jake Muldowney and Moone were 5 nil up. You would have forgiven Kill for throwing in the towel at this stage but to be fair they troubled Moone, kept plugging away and pulled one back on the 65th minutes, no more than they deserved. Shortly after they were clear in on goals but shot over. Jake Muldowney put a ball in behind the Kill defence ball for Callum Kelly to run onto but Kill's goalkeeper was quick off his line and cleared the ball. Kill were dominating the exchanges and had the better of the efforts on goal and pulled a second back 79 minutes.
As the game was drawing to a close Bradley Guing gathered a lose ball 25 yards out and on any other day his shot would have nestled in the top corner but on this occasion Kill's goalkeeper was equal to the challenge stretching full length to put it out for a corner, undoubtedly the save of the day.
Both teams deserve great credit for serving up an entertaining afternoons football. With a bit more composure in front of goals this score could have been a lot higher for both sides but both goalkeepers were in top form today. Moone bounced back well today from last week’s defeat with a really good team performance so picking individuals is hard to do but the ones who probably excelled today were Bradley Guing in defence, Charlie O'Connor and Eoin Kearney in midfield, Callum Kelly upfront but the standout performer today was Jake Muldowney in midfield. He bossed his position from start to finish, scored two goals and it was no coincidence that when Kill were really on top it was during the period when Jake was moved out of that position to play elsewhere, fair play Jake.