It was the last kick of the game and McGuire stepped up without a second thought to attempt to steal the glory despite the kick being from 42 metres out at the Principality Stadium.
His only previous attempt had got close from the left hand touchline after Pembrokeshire had scored a try. With only two points separating the two sides at the end of a tight contest it was a question of him being a hero or zero.
He struck it perfectly, but then had to watch as it hit the junction of the left hand upright and the cross bar and bounced out. An Islwyn forward gathers and gleefully kicked the ball into he stands to bring the game to an end to allow them to take the title 10-8.
Islwyn got off to a flying start with a try from full back Riley Gummer in the opening minutes as he showed great pace, a useful step and then a final hand off to reach the line.
Outside half Madoc Evans cut the gap with a penalty for Pembrokeshire, who were competing in their first final in the Dewar Shield competition.
Back came Islwyn, last season’s beaten finalists, and hooker Tian Hall picked up the pieces at a five metre line-out to crash over for a try to make it 10-3. Pembrokeshire recovered from their early set-back and almost got over before the break.
The Islwyn tackling had to be sure and in hooker Tiaan Hall and lock Cerrig Smith they had two strong leaders in all facets. Pembrokeshire second row Lewis Dennison got help up over the line and then livewire scrum half Alfie Luger lost the ball two metres out.
It was 10-3 at the break and the only score in the second came when Delme Alleyne weaved his way over in the left corner. McGuire got close with his touchline conversion and then got even closer with his final kick at goal.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY . . . Islwyn head coach Joel Raikes
“We were gutted last year when we lost, but it was brilliant for the players to get over the line this time. It was a great experience topped off by the win. We couldn’t have started any better, although we left a few chances out there.
“We knew they would throw everything at us in the second half, but we just managed too hold them off. I watched the last kick and as soon as it left his foot I thought it was sailing over. It was a great kick.”
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY . . . Pembrokeshire head coach Aled Walters
“For us to be the first Pembrokeshire team to reach a final and to miss out on the last kick of the game to a team that has been runners-up the previous year i something to feel proud about. Fair play to Dylan (McGuire), he stepped up to take the shot at goal.
“My heart was in my mouth when he went for the kick. In the warm up he had nailed a few from that sort of distance, but this is such a big arena you can’t blame him for missing. As a team, we were probably guilty of playing the occasion rather than the game.”
Scorers: Islwyn: Tries: R Cummer, K Coonick. Pembrokeshire: Try: D Alleyne; Pen: M Evans.
U15 Lawrence Miller Bowl Final Teams
Islwyn Schools: Riley Gummer (Blackwood School); Evan Davies (Islwyn HS), Charlie Gregory (Islwyn HS), Tegwyn Mahoney (Newbridge School), Liam White (Blackwood School); Kai Kinsey (Newbridge School), Felix Preece Jones (Newbridge School); Josh Davies (Risca HS), Tiaan Hall (Risca HS), Keegan Coonick (Blackwood School), Colbie Evans (Newbridge School), Cerrig Smith (Newbridge School, captain), Tom Murphy (Islwyn HS), Connor McIlwee (Newbridge School), Jake Sheppard (Islwyn HS)
Reps: Connor Boyland (Blackwood School), Aneurin Morgan (Newbridge School), Jack Owen (Risca HS), Dan Roberts (Islwyn HS), Luca Manning (Risca HS), Harrison Miles (Islwyn HS), Morgan Marozzelli (Blackwood School), Ollie Hiscott (Islwyn HS)
Pembrokeshire Schools: Leo Power (Milford Haven); Ifan Wyn Jones (Y Bro Preseli), Liam Highes (Haverfordwest HS), Delme Alleyne (Y Bro Preseli), Kian Ladd (Y Bro Gwaun); Madoc Evans (Y Bro Preseli), Alfie Luger (Y Greenhill); Cruz Findley (Milford Haven), Harri Evans (Haverfordwest HS, captain), Ollie Tucker (Y Greenhill), Harvey Thomas (Haverfordwest HS), Lewis Dennison (Y Harri Tudor) Lewis Rossiter (Y Greenhill), Jaydan Allen (Y Greenhill), Corey Riley (Milford Haven)
Reps: Rhys Phelps (Haverfordwest HS), Braydan Jones (Haverfordwest HS), Caio Jones (Haverfordwest HS), Owen Grieve (Y Greenhill), Callum White (Y Caer Elen), Alfie Thomas (Milford Haven), Dylan McGuire (Milford Haven), Deian James (Bro Preseli)
