Boys U13 (2013) Premier - Clane United
After a prolonged break from league action our U13 Premier team took on table topping Clane United. As would be expected in January the pitch was soft but both sides served up some fine football.
Naas started the better side and moved the ball quickly through the lines. Peter McBride twice released Kellum Finnegan behind the Clane defence with almost identical slide rule passes. On both occasions Finnegan hit the target but was thwarted by the on rushing Clane keeper. McBride went close himself with a slaloming run ending with a shot whistling past the post from just inside the box.
The Naas midfield were dominating with Charlie O’Connor and Seanie Hayden linking well with Mikey Danu out wide, who’s mazy running was causing the Clane right back problems.
The Naas back four kept a tight grip on the Clane attack whenever they did threaten. Max Kennedy marshalling the Clane left winger with a couple of robust but fair tackles. Jamie Dunphy and Kian Shanaghy controlling the centre dishing out some physicality as required as well as some really good distribution.
Chris Sheridan and Mikey Danu were causing Clane problems down the Naas left and nearly broke though on a couple of occasions.
As so often happens in football though a rare breach in the Naas defence saw the ball break on the edge of the box and a fine shot was dispatched into the bottom corner of the net past the despairing dive of Finn Dudley. Completely against the run of play Naas found themselves behind.
Naas continued to battle though, winning their 50/50’s and probing the Clane defence but would go into the break behind by the bare minimum.
With a couple of changes at the break Naas brought Callum Hartigan into the centre of defence with Shanaghy moving into midfield. Adam Conroy took over on the right wing with Finnegan moving to the left. Within a few minutes of the restart a Naas corner was cleared to the edge of the box where Charlie O’Connor let fly from distance, his shot was partially blocked but fell to Conroy in the box who made no mistake finishing under the keeper for the leveller. It was no more than Naas deserved.
The game ebbed and flowed with both sides having periods of dominance. Both goalkeepers made good saves. Oscar Ross released Charlie O’Connor clean through but the Clane keeper rushed out and bravely blocked, while Dudley in the Naas goal tipped a couple of low efforts around the post.
As the match edged towards the final whistle naas had a couple of late chances. One of which was a lovely flowing move starting with Sheridan at left back, moving the ball through Hartigan, Dunphy, Gleeson and Shanaghy, who released Finnegan down the right. The first time cross was met by a bullet header from Frankie O’Leary, who lead the line well all day, but the ball narrowly missed the near post.
The closing play was a sign of how far this team have come. For a long time we have travelled to Clane and come away feeling a long way off competing with them. Today Naas dominated their hosts and should have come away with three points.
The top of the premier division is very tight and Naas are right in the hunt. Next up for Naas is the new league leaders and meanest defence in the league, Castle Villa, at home next Saturday.
