Boys U16 (2010) Premier - Old Forte

A week of soul searching, honest conversations with the lads what is expected to play for Naas AFC, and the privilege they have, the full squad responded with a performance the club are very proud of, despite what the scoreline suggests.

The attitude, work rate, team spirit and effort was a complete 180 from the Suncroft game.

Against a very strong and well drilled Old Forte, Naas started strong and were on the front foot from the start, setting the tone early, with the engine room of Matthew McCarthy, Evan Moriarty and Jamie Byrnes leading the charge.

Naas were creating half chances, and Roddy Cummins was giving the right back serious problems with his pace and direct running. Following another surge, Roddy won a corner. Evan Moriarty whipped in a gorgeous cross, which was judged to have cross the line. 1-0 Naas.

Naas continued to create chances and won several corners following good work from James Collins and Ned Keogh. Evan Moriarty's deliveries were inch perfect and causing huge problems, with Jamie Byrnes and Matthew McCarthy going close.

Against the run of play Old Forte hit 2 quick goals, the first of which was soft from our point of view and should have been dealt with my the defence.

Naas focus did not change, and the lads were positive to a man. Jack O Brien and Evan Malone were introduced. Evan had to be taken off on his first touch following a very dangerous tackle, which got a yellow, but could easily have been red. Jack and James up top were warming to the task and causing massive problems up top, with both going close. The equaliser arrived on 30 minutes. Sean Stafford and Jamie Byrnes combined well on the right and set James Collins through down the right, who squared the ball to Jack who made no mistake with a clinical finish.

Naas were on the front foot and winning all second balls. Evan Moriarty was everywhere in the middle and driving the team forward. He bounced on on their 6, won the pull and drove forward, and hit a shot which seemed it was goal bound, only for the keeper to make a great save.

Old Forte should have been shown a red card, when Evan was pole axed with an elbow to the chest, only yellow!!!

Just before half time Old Forte hit Naas with a suckered punch to go 3-2 in at the break. Alec Walsh had no chance with this one.

Naas lost Captain James Collins and CB Ben Harrington to injuries at half time, which was a blow losing 2 players of their quality.

Undeterred, Naas brought on Dara O Shea and Conor Murtagh, who both made massive impacts.

Naas again were on thr front foot and had 4 or 5 brilliant chances to equalise with Jack, who was giving their defence a horrendous time, Conor, Dara and Jamie went close. Naas were playing some lovely stuff, but Old Forte always looked dangerous on the break, with Sean, Fred, Dan and Matthew always on hand to deal with the threats. Alec was called into action and made a couple of great stops.

The equaliser came 15 minutes in and it was Jack who got his second of the day. Jack showed great composure and was clinical from 10 yards out.

3-3 What a game. Unbelievably Old Forte went back ahead 5 minutes later with a well worked goal. Did Naas have anything left!! Naas sent the dangerous Roddy Cummins, Ned Keogh and Cian Leonard on to freshen things up. Naas then lost Evan Moriarty, who was immense in the 6 today, to injury. But despite all the injuries, Naas kept going and pressing. Following good work by Cian, Conor and Jack down the left, Jack found Jamie. Byrnes down the left. Jamie burst down the left and squared it into the box for Dara to make it 4-4!!!!.

Naas hunted for the winner and kept going and went close on several occasions. With 3 minutes to go, the knock out punch. From a free kick i side our half, Old Forte CB got his head on the cross and it went into the bottom corner. 4-5 Old Forte.

Naas piled forward for the last 3 minutes, leaving ourselves exposed at the back. Following a naas attack breaking down, old forte broke and scored again.

Despite the result, the lads put in a massive performance and played for each other and kept going. Another day we win that by 2 or 3. Lads should be very proud of themselves and that is the benchmark for the rest of the season.