Boys U18 (2007) Major - Dunlavin A.F.C

18s Take First 3pts Of Season.

After a 2 week lay off the u18s travelled to Dunlavin for a 1pm Kick Off in blustery conditions.

Naas started the better playing with the wind and with a small formation tweak they  had Dunlavin on the back foot early doors, Despite this bright start and some well worked play Naas had nothing to show for their early dominance. As the half wore on and Naas continued to try find an opening it would be a double substitution that would prove effective, Shortly after the introduction of Leo Ahern and Tommy Carey Naas would finally have the goal their play deserved, Ahern picking the ball up in space played a fine ball out wide for Tommy Carey who drove at the Dunlavin defence and into the box before firing a driven shot into the far corner from the tightest of angles, 

The goal sparked Dunlavin into live and they battled hard for the remainder of the half and would have gone into the half time break level only for a superb save from Leon Curran to keep them out after a breakaway from Dunlavin saw both Charlie Dunne and Leigh Wilson slip to allow the Dunlavin striker in 1 on 1 only to see his shot smothered by Leon and then cleared away to safety. 

The 2nd half saw the Naas lads push hard to kill the game off but Dunlavin had a small resurgence and slowly worked their way into the game frustrating Naas for long periods, despite their best efforts they couldn't find their way past a solid Naas defence, as the 60th minute rolled around Naas would finally get their 2nd some good passing play in the midfield would see the ball arrive out wide to Leo and a pinpoint pass back across the back would see Orest Rybak connect first time with a low shot into the bottom right corner. Boosted by the crucial 2nd goal Naas now took full control of the game and continued to search for further goals, only to find the Dunlavin keeper in fine form to keep Naas at bay, Naas would have their 3rd goal on the 70th minute when Dylan Hand finished well from just outside the box after some good build up play in midfield from Ciaran Ryan, 

In full control Naas continued to put Dunlavin under pressure but on the 77th minute Naas would see themselves reduced to 10 men when Rybak saw a 2nd yellow for kicking the ball away after he saw his shot palmed off the line and out for a corner. 

Dunlavin would capitalise soon after as Naas struggled to organise themselves with a man down, and lifted by the goal Dunlavin looked to mount a comeback, Naas weathered the storm well and killed the game off with 4 minutes left on the clock a long ball forward found Leo Ahern who drove into the Dunlavin box and slotting home putting an end to Dunlavin's hopes of a comeback, Naas saw out the remaining minutes to take their first 3pts of the season. 

Coaches Note: Great result for the lads today after a couple of weeks without a game, a change to a more attacking formation proved fruitful also and we would have scored more today only for Dunlavin's goalkeeper being in fine form, plenty to work on for next week but things are slowly coming together for the lads and if they continue to improve week on week like they have so far they have a very good season ahead of them. 

Best For Naas: Ciaran Ryan, Cian Thomas and Jude Giltrap. 

Player Of The Game: Leo Ahern