Boys U13 (2013) Premier - Monasterevin AFC
Naas came up against Monasterevin for the first time since their SFAI Trophy clash in December and the Naas lads had revenge on their minds. Naas will have felt they should have beaten the visitors that day but a last minute goal in extra time had seen Monasterevin advance.
Again they met on the top pitch in Kerdiffstown and the Naas lads were on it from minute one. Naas imposed a physical and technical game on Monasterevin and created a number of breaks down each wing through Mikey Danu and Frankie O’Leary. The Naas midfield were dominating with Charlie O’Connor, Sean Hayden and Peter McBride running the show with biting tackles and fast one and two touch passing.
The first goal was well deserved after 16 minutes and it came down the Naas left hand side with Peter McBride releasing Mikey Danu into the inside left channel. Danu’s first effort was saved but on the rebound he found the top corner.
As the half wore on Naas continued to create chances. Frankie O’Leary was set free down the right wing by Jamie Dunphy, O’Leary’s low cross flashed across goal with centre forward Kian Shanaghy inches from a touch that would have made it 2-0.
A couple of changes saw Oscar Ross come in for Danu and Hin Ngo, making his debut for Naas, replacing Shanaghy up front. Within 90 seconds Hin had made his presence felt putting two of the Monasterevin back four on their backsides. It was a sign of things to come from the powerful front man.
Into the second half and Naas’s dominance continued. Max Kennedy and Peter McBride were combining well on their Naas right hand side keeping Monasterevin’s left winger quiet. He had been the difference in the recent cup game. Nothing was getting in behind the Naas defence which was marshaled well by Jamie Dunphy and Callum Hartigan in the centre.
As the half wore on the dominance turned into goals. Hin Ngo was released by Charlie O’Connor and ran on powerfully, taking the ball around the keeper before finishing to an empty net. A debut goal for the former Sallins man. Moments later the move of the game. It started with goalkeeper, Finn Dudley, rolling the ball to left back Chris Sheridan who moved the ball across the back four to Jason Gleeson. Gleeson shifted it into Adam Conroy who then released Hin Ngo down the right channel. Hin burst into the box along the end line, pulled the ball back for Charlie O’Connor who found the bottom corner. A brilliant team goal and a signal to the Naas lads that their hard work at training really does pay off.
There was still time for the cherry on the cake. Kian Shanaghy popped up on the edge of the box and hit the crossbar with a curling effort, and the ball broke in the box to Captain Fantastic, Jamie Dunphy, who found the top corner with a left foot effort. That had been the third time Naas hit the woodwork on the day and showed how much they dominated their opponents.
The 4 goals could easily have been 6 / 7. 😉
Man of the Match was Sean Hayden who didn’t put a foot wrong in the CDM role all day but in truth their could have been 15 man of the match awards.
Next up for Naas is a trip to Kilcullen next weekend. Hopefully they can extend their unbeaten league run and stay in touch with the league leaders.
