Boys U18 (2007) Major - Dunlavin AFC

18s Take 3Pts With Strong Performance At Home. 

The 18s hosted Dunlavin for a 12pm  kick off, coming off the back of a good win last weekend away. However it would be Dunlavin who would have the best of the opening quarter and duly took the lead when some good play through the middle of the pitch split the Naas defence open allowing the Dunlavin front man to round Leon Curran in goal and unselfishly square for his team mate to tap into an open net. The Dunlavin goal did little to spark Naas into life and they continued to struggle with Dunlavin's long ball down the middle, As the half hour ticked by Naas still found themselves a goal down but some strong running down the left wing from Jake Kelly saw him win a corner for his side, Jake's delivery from the resulting corner was good and after a goal mouth scramble Ryan Gillane would drive the ball home to bring Naas level. Now level and with Naas winning more of the ball around the midfield with Jude Giltrap and Cian Thomas working hard in the centre they began to get a foothold in the game and pen Dunlavin back into their own half, Naas having plenty of look out wide saw some good chances come and go before the half time whistle went but the teams remained deadlocked at the break. 

Naas started the second half better than the first and with the midfield and centre backs now dealing with Dunlavin's long ball they took the game to Dunlavin with Naas' wide play proofing fruitful and causing all sorts of problems for the Dunlavin defence, Naas would take the lead 5mins into the 2nd half when more strong running down the right from Jake Kelly saw him deliver a superb cross for Leo Ahern who saw his shot saved well by the Dunlavin keeper but Charlie Reid was on hand to tap home the loose ball, Naas continued to control the game but a soft free awarded to Dunlavin on the 60min would see them pull themselves level after Leon made a fine save from a sweetly struck shot it was Dunlavin who pounced quickest to the ball and finished nicely under the on rushing keeper. With the sides level Naas continued to control the game and went back in front when Charlie Reid struck again after a goal mouth scramble, Reid would have his hat trick shortly after when a goal bound header from Jake Kelly bounced off the crossbar and into his path. Now 4-2 in front Dunlavin slowly started to retreat further back into their own half and Naas kept applying the pressure, Leo Ahern would add a fifth with a fine header, Leigh Wilson added the 6th with a fine header of his own, before Michael Balfe struck Naas' 7th when he won some dirty ball in the midfield drove forward and fired a rocket into the top corner from 30 yards. Orest Rybak would finish out Naas' scoring when he picked up a loose ball and finished well into the left corner.  A fine win for the team today and their first 3pts at home this season. 

Coaches Note: The lads started the game slow but dug deep to get themselves into the game, once they got a foothold in the game they played some excellent football and deserved the win today. 

Best For Naas: Jude Giltrap,Jake Kelly, Leo Ahern and Ryan Gillane 

Player Of The Game: Charlie Reid