Feature game Leinster Leader

KDFL Senior Division 

Arlington FC 4 Moone Celtic 2

Arlington AFC secured an impressive 4-2 win over Moone Celtic in a spirited home performance at Castle Park this morning.

The visitors took an early lead after just five minutes, capitalising on a defensive lapse from a set piece. Dylan Dunning shot wide from outside the box but play was brought back for an indirect free. Owen Fox stood over it and chipped a ball over the defence for Tadgh Phelan to score. The game was evenly matched in the opening period but Arlington’s midfield started to dominate and use possession well. Arlington’s equaliser was no more than they deserved and in the twenty sixth minute a Robbie McNeill free kick was delivered into the box and converted by Pádraig O’Kane. Chris Hoskins was sitting deep and mopping up Moone attacks with McNeill and Ugochukwu more advanced. With Moone under pressure until half time, Taylor Beresford in only his second start was solid in the Moone defence with Owen Fox working hard in midfield. Tadgh Phelan and Callum Kelly worked hard upfront. Cian Flood in the Moone goals was the busier of the two keepers but claimed many of the crosses that came his way. It was even steven at the break with all to play for. 

In the second half, Arlington pushed on and regained control. Adam Dunne lit up the game with a superb strike on fifty eight minutes to make it 2-1 – a memorable goal on his senior debut after stepping up from the youth team. Dunne coming in from the Moone right cut back onto his right foot and from the corner of the penalty box shot to Flood’s top left corner leaving Flood with no chance of a save. Moone Celtic pulled one back to level the match at 2-2 with a ball over the top around the sixty third minute mark when Owen Fox and Tadgh Phelan combined again with Fox releasing Phelan with a delightful chip over the top and Phelan made no mistake. Moone looked like they were going to score the next with sustained pressure but Arlington caught them with a sucker punch on sixty nine minutes. Adam Dunne struck again with a well-taken finish coming from a precise pull back ball by Zac Whelan – to complete a dream debut brace and put Arlington 3-2 ahead.

Mark Ugochukwu rounded off the performance with a great individual effort to secure all three points for the home side on the 89th minute making it 4-2. On the day, Arlington were too strong for Moone and made their possession count. Adam Dunne was a standout performer and deservedly picked up the Man of the Match award. Other strong displays came from Robbie McNeill, Chris Hoskins and Jason Conlan. For Moone, a spirited performance from a depleted side with Taylor Beresford, Owen Fox, Callum Kelly and Tadgh Phelan best.