Boys U17 (2009) Premier - Kilcullen AFC
Naas AFC 5 – 5 Kilcullen
This was a game that had absolutely everything — goals, cards, penalties, free kicks, disallowed goals, questionable refereeing decisions and even what could only be described as the “hand of Kilcullen”. In the end, it produced a dramatic 10-goal thriller that kept everyone on the edge of their seats right until the final whistle.
Naas started brightly and inside two minutes Isaac Cramer fired an early warning shot just wide of the post. Two minutes later Conor Fagan showed his class, beating three defenders before seeing his effort saved by the Kilcullen goalkeeper.
The breakthrough came on 11 minutes when Fagan stepped up to take a free kick and produced a moment of real quality, placing a clever low shot past the wall and into the net to give Naas a 1–0 lead.
Kilcullen were level on 18 minutes when an unfortunate own goal brought the visitors back into the game. The action continued at a frantic pace. On 19 minutes Cramer fired over the bar and moments later Liam O’Shea also tried his luck from distance but saw his effort go wide.
Naas regained the lead on 24 minutes when Fagan was brought down in the box. The striker dusted himself off, stepped up and calmly converted the penalty to make it 2–1 and grab his second goal of the game.
The lead didn’t last long however, as Kilcullen struck from a free kick on 30 minutes to level the game again at 2–2.
Naas responded almost immediately. On 33 minutes Sean Onwere provided the assist and Fagan completed his hat-trick with another excellent finish to restore the lead at 3–2.
But the drama was far from over. Just before the break Kilcullen struck again to level the game at 3–3, sending the teams in at half time after an incredible first 45 minutes.
The second half continued in the same chaotic fashion. On 52 minutes Liam O’Shea produced an outrageous strike from 25 yards that crashed off the crossbar, with Dawid Kolter unfortunately unable to keep the rebound down as it flew over the bar.
Naas kept pushing forward and some excellent passing football saw Matthew Greene venture forward into unfamiliar attacking territory before producing a perfect assist for Fagan, who finished clinically to score his fourth goal of the game and make it 4–3.
Kolter then came close from a free kick on 61 minutes which drifted just wide of the post.
Naas extended their lead shortly after in unusual fashion when Huey Phelan delivered a ball into the box that turned into a shot-cum-cross and completely deceived the Kilcullen goalkeeper, finding the net to make it 5–3. Phelan was unlucky not to add another soon after when his powerful strike crashed against the crossbar.
With Naas seemingly in control, the game took one final dramatic twist. Deep into injury time — which stretched over 10 minutes, four more than originally indicated — Kilcullen struck twice to bring the game level at 5–5.
When the final whistle eventually blew, it marked the end of one of the most chaotic and entertaining matches of the season.
The big question now remains — was this two points dropped, or a valuable point gained in the pursuit of the league title?
Only time will tell.
