Jack Moylan: 'Over lockdown my mates played Killian Phillips' mates out on the green. It was chaos - even to this day there's a bit of beef over it'

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Moylan in action for Shelbourne against Cork City's Barry Coffey. Credit: David Ribeiro (ETPhotos)

Jack Moylan is ready to lock horns with his lockdown mate Killian Phillips as he finally makes the move over the water to Lincoln City.

The former Shelbourne ace will face off with his fellow Kilbarrack man after Christmas in League One, where Phillips is on loan at Wycombe Wanderers from Crystal Palace.

But it’s far from the first time they’ve come up against one another on the pitch - as the Covid-19 break pitched the then Bohs player Moylan against Drogheda United’s Phillips.

“Killian only lives around the corner from me - he literally lives up the road,” the Soccer Writers Ireland player of the month for October told extratime.com.. 

“So I’m looking forward to it. He’s obviously playing with Wycombe. He’s doing well and he scored the other night. It’ll be a nice little battle in there. 

“We would have played together [growing up] and even during lockdown, my mates would have played against his mates out on the green. 

“It was chaos. I think even to this day there’s a bit of beef over it. But it’s good craic and I’m looking forward to playing him now.”

22-year-old Moylan nabbed a hat-trick in a pivotal 3-2 win over UCD that set Damien Duff’s Shels side on course for a European spot.

His brace against Drogheda on the final day as the Reds came down from 2-0 down at half time to win 4-2 earned a fourth-place finish.

They’re still relying on St Patrick’s Athletic doing them a favour and beat Bohemians in the FAI Cup final to seal a Europa League spot.



And while Moylan may end up at the Aviva for Sunday’s Cup final, he will be tempted to keep his head low as he wishes his Shels team-mates the best for next season.

He said: “I’ll certainly be up for Pats, I’ve a few friends who are Pats fans who’ll be in the away end - I don’t think I’d be welcome there!

“I’ll definitely have my Pats hat on. I’ll probably go to the game. I’ll decide on Saturday or Sunday morning. Look, every Shels fans in the country will be up for Pats.”

October and November became a fitting farewell for Moylan at Tolka Park as he notched five goals for the club, who are back in the ownership of their Irish directors after a battle to back Duff long-term.

Moylan has been pressed into a more attacking role than his preferred midfield position due to injuries earlier in the season but he has flourished in his new assignment.

He added: “It was brilliant, it was the perfect send off almost. I was delighted with it and delighted to pick up the award as well. It's a nice personal achievement to finish off things.



“It was probably something I knew earlier in the season with Seán [Boyd] and Matty [Smith] injured that I was going to have to play a bit higher. 

“There was no one else who could come in and do it. I played there a lot as a kid as well. Football is about scoring goals, that's what everyone wants to do.

“That's what it's about and it's what I'm about as well. It's a good feeling. I always think I'll score a few goals but obviously when I'm higher up the pitch, I get a few more chances. 

“I got a lot of luck probably throughout the year as well - a lot of balls fell for me, a lot of penalties as well. But I'm delighted to take it and to pick up that award is brilliant as well.

“I think fourth for us is a massive achievement the way we started, the way we came into the Premier Division last year with a new manager, everything's been new to us. 

“A whole new team as well. Hopefully the team can kick on now next year and get further up the league, go and win titles, get into Europe without worrying about other games.”

About Dave Donnelly

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