☀️ Four-Midable Naas Shine in November Sunshine!

Naas made the most of the November sunshine with a convincing 4–0 victory over a spirited Rathangan side.

While the final score suggests a comfortable afternoon, the visitors provided plenty of resistance, particularly during the first half.

Naas, however, combined some composed finishing with determined defending to secure another well-earned three points.

5 mins – GOAL! Naas 1–0 Rathangan

A well-directed clearance from Con down the left released Ryan, who drove forward before cutting inside and testing the Rathangan goalkeeper. The keeper managed to save, but Oscar reacted quickest, showing excellent composure to lift the rebound over him from the edge of the six-yard box.

7 mins – GOAL! Naas 2–0 Rathangan

Naas doubled their advantage just two minutes later. Charlie O'Connor rose to meet a kick-out with a commanding header, releasing Tadhg, whose perfectly timed run took him clear of the defence. A beautifully weighted finish completed an excellent move and gave Naas the ideal start.

14 mins – Rathangan Respond

Rathangan created an opening down the left, but the resulting effort drifted wide of the target.

16 mins – Ryan Goes Close

A positive break from Sheasy created an opportunity for Ryan, who couldn't quite make the connection he wanted, allowing the goalkeeper to gather comfortably.

20 mins – Rathangan Apply Pressure

The visitors enjoyed a spell of sustained pressure, creating another opportunity as they looked to reduce the deficit. Naas were forced to remain disciplined at the back.

30 mins – Inches Away

Ryan found space at a difficult angle and attempted to guide his effort into the far corner, only to see the ball roll narrowly wide.

Half-Time: Naas 2–0 Rathangan

The second half began as an evenly contested affair, with both sides battling for possession. Rathangan continued to compete strongly, but Naas gradually established greater control.

50 mins – GOAL! Naas 3–0 Rathangan

Oscar's persistence paid off as he battled to regain possession before delivering a clever cutback to Sheasy on the edge of the penalty area. Sheasy made no mistake, driving a precise finish into the bottom corner to give Naas some valuable breathing space.

59 mins – GOAL! Naas 4–0 Rathangan

Excellent work from Ryan saw him regain possession in midfield before producing a perfectly weighted pass with the outside of his boot into Oscar's path. Oscar timed his run well and calmly guided the ball into the bottom corner to complete a fine attacking move.

61 mins – Denied by the Crossbar

Seanie showed determination to win back possession before setting up Ryan, whose well-struck effort crashed against the crossbar. An excellent attempt that deserved a goal.

Full-Time: Naas 4–0 Rathangan

Defence and Goalkeepers

Rathangan remained a lively attacking threat throughout, but the Naas defence stood firm. There were a few anxious moments while the score remained 2–0, yet the backline responded well and successfully kept the visitors at bay.

Both DJ and DOC performed confidently when called upon, playing their part in securing another clean sheet.

Final Whistle

Another victory under our belt and plenty of positives to take from the performance. There are still areas to improve: greater composure in front of goal, better communication across midfield and a need to close down opposition players more quickly in defence.

Nevertheless, four goals, a clean sheet and another three points represent an excellent return for the lads.

A Mention to Hogie!

A special mention to Hogie, whose school commitments mean he can't always be available on matchdays, but whose commitment to the team remains unquestionable.

Following the final whistle, Hogie delivered a brief speech to his teammates, expressing how proud he was of their performances and what they are achieving together on the pitch.

A lovely gesture that reflects the strong sense of camaraderie within the squad.

Although, judging by the speech, he may well be preparing a campaign for student council! 😜👏⚽