Feature game - Leinster Leader

KDFL Under 20 Shield Final.

Newbridge Rovers FC 4 BBC United FC 1

BBC United U20’s made the journey to Clane to face Newbridge Rovers in this year’s KDFL Under 20 Shield Final.  Having only met once in the early league there was much anticipation from the BBC side, with a point to prove that we would not be a push over.

After a tense start, both sides traded shots at each end and both sides were unlucky not to have an early score on the boards.  The deadlock was broken however on the 22nd minute when BBC conceded a corner which Newbridge Rovers took short and Harry Callaghan ably slotting it in on the near side under BBC goal keeper Sandijs Bus.  The 1st half continued at a high tempo and BBC were unlucky not to level up the short, but as we went into half time, it remained 1-0 to Newbridge Rovers.

Into the second half, the match kicked off with the same high tempo from both sides and the necessary changes made by BBC in mid field seemed to shore up a gap which Newbridge Rovers exploited during the 1st half and into the second half.  Newbridge Rovers peppered the BBC goalie from range to no avail, while most of BBC chances seemed to come from free kick set pieces ably delivered by BBC Captain Conor O’Donoghue.

Newbridge Rovers doubled the advantage on the 53rd minute with what seemed an easy delivery up the wing for Jay Fitzgerald to slot home. 

BBC never give up mentality kept the pressure going and there was much anticipation that something should fall the White and black way and it did in the shape of a free kick delivered at force by Captain Conor O’Donoghue, who put the ball in under the Newbridge Rovers goalkeeper to leave it 2-1 to Rovers with 15 minutes remaining on the clock. 

Disaster struck for BBC eight minutes later when Newbridge Rovers hit BBC again from a BBC kick out to make it 3-1 courtesy of a second from Harry Callaghan.  With that BBC make some changes to go to three at the back from their normal four at the back.  It was time to gamble, with nothing to lose and BBC continued to hammer the Newbridge defensively with some great attacks from BBC forwards Cathal Fox and Tom Norton, however to no avail.  Newbridge Rovers put the final nail in the coffin with a fourth goal in the 89th minute, from the boot of Callum Rogers. 

Heartiest congratulations to the Newbridge Rovers team and Management who gave BBC a great team and we will be back next season, stronger and wiser.  To Clane for the use of their excellent facilities and to KDFL referees and Committee for their support of the U20 league and Cup/Shield structures. BBC player of the week was Sandijs Buls with special mention for Captain Conor O’Donoghue who was all over the pitch, as well as Flynn Nolan, who proved to be work horse.