Boys U16 (2009) Premier - Derry Rovers

Naas AFC 8-0 Derry Rovers

(Total Domination as Naas March into the Next Round)

A cup tie that was expected to be a tightly contested battle turned into a ruthless demolition job by Naas AFC, as they put eight past Derry Rovers in a performance full of intensity, flair, and teamwork. From the first whistle, Naas made their intentions clear, showing they would not be bullied by a physically aggressive Rovers side.

First Half: Relentless Attack

The tone was set early when Brody Power put in a crunching tackle just two minutes in, making it clear that Naas were up for the fight. The first real chance of the game came soon after, as Mattias forced a save from the Rovers keeper. Moments later, a dazzling dribbling run from Ryan Murtagh caused panic in the defense, leading to a Naas corner.

The breakthrough arrived in the 19th minute when Liam Mescal confidently converted a penalty after Murtagh was brought down in the box. 1-0 Naas. The boys in blue could smell blood and kept pressing, with Murtagh going close again just minutes later.

The second goal followed on the 30-minute mark, thanks to Conor Fagan. A slick passing sequence between Liam O’Shea and Murtagh set up Fagan, whose quick touch and turn allowed him to finish calmly. 2-0 Naas.

Naas continued to pile on the pressure, forcing the Rovers goalkeeper into mistakes. Then, Mescal stepped up again with his second goal of the game after a sensational solo run down the wing. Cutting inside along the byline, he clipped the ball over the onrushing keeper to make it 3-0 before halftime.

Second Half: More of the Same

Naas came out firing after the break, continuing their relentless attacking play. Within minutes, they won a corner, and Jake Dooley’s well-placed shot was only denied by a goal-line clearance.

Then came the fourth goal in the 42nd minute, and it was a moment of brilliance from Ryan Murtagh, who scored directly from a corner—a stunning strike that left the keeper helpless. 4-0 Naas.

With Naas in full control, the defense—led by Tilly, Greene, Dooley, and Power—was rock-solid while still launching attacks from deep.

Mescal then completed his hat-trick with a long-range strike, despite being fouled, making it 5-0. His performance was nothing short of spectacular, running the midfield and terrorizing the Rovers’ defense all game.

Naas showed no mercy, and in the 60th minute, Mattias added his name to the scoresheet with a top-corner finish that was arguably the goal of the game. 6-0 Naas.

The seventh goal came shortly after, with Jack Tilly rising highest from a Dawid corner to power home a header. 7-0 Naas.

The boys weren’t done yet. With Dawid desperate to get on the scoresheet, he was denied twice—once by the crossbar and again by a top-class save from the Rovers keeper. However, Naas would not be denied an eighth, as Luca pounced on a loose ball to complete the rout in the 68th minute. 8-0 Naas.

Final Thoughts

This was a complete team performance, showcasing Naas AFC’s strength, depth, and mentality. Even with Oliver Curran injured, players stepped up—Dawid, Phelan, and Tilly all sharing goalkeeping duties in the second half, putting the team first.

It was also a fantastic moment to see Jake Pitt Byrne return from injury, while the young Conor Murtagh caused problems all game for the Rovers' defense.

With this dominant 8-0 victory, Naas march into the next round in style. Who can stop them?

Man of the Match: Liam Mescal – A hat-trick, an assist, and complete midfield dominance.