Boys U13 (2013) Premier - Kilcock Celtic
A balmy evening in pitch 1 in Naas Sports Centre saw Naas take on Kilcock for the third time in 6 weeks but this time it was knockout football. A place in the semi finals of the KDUL Cup was at stake.
Naas took control of the game from the outset with slick passing across the back four and through midfield. The lads were brave and crisp moving the ball around the pitch.
Unlike previous encounters with Kilcock, Naas made the good start count and went ahead with a team goal straight from the training pitch. The ball moved right across the back four from left full back right across to right back through both centre halves. Max Kennedy found Peter McBride in centre midfield who laid the ball to Chris Sheridan. Chris pinged a pass to Kellum Finnegan on the right wing who’s first touch was perfect, he then knocked the ball over his full back, battled past him and unleashed a half volley from just inside the box over the keeper into the back of the net for 1-0 Naas. What a team goal and the start that the lads needed and deserved.
Naas continued to dominate the game with Jason Gleeson, Chris Sheridan and Peter McBride controlling Kilcock’s very strong midfield. The lads looked dangerous with full backs Frankie O’Leary and Max Kennedy feeding wingers Adam Conroy and Kellum Finnegan. Hin Ngo was a constant threat in centre forward with two men marking him giving the wingers more space to work in.
At the break it was 1-0 with Kilcock only really having a couple of dangerous corners and one shot of note which was brilliantly tipped around the post by Kian Shanaghy who deputised for Finn Dudley in goal.
The second half was a little bit more of a grind for Naas as the Premier League leaders turned the screw and got hold of the game in midfield. They pressed Naas really high and made it really difficult to play through the lines. Our centre halves Callum Hartigan and Jamie Dunphy tirelessly as the game wore on. Seanie Hayden and Charlie O’Connor came in to help in midfield and the fresh legs gave Naas some breathing space. With Mikey Danu and Oscar Ross coming on in the wide positions Naas started to get possession higher up the pitch.
They managed the closing stages well to secure a 1-0 win and set up a semi final against Clane United who knocked Naas out at the QF stage last season.
