WIND-BLOWN BLUES FIGHT TO THE FINISH! BRAVE NAAS ROAR BACK AGAINST CLANE
A fiercely contested battle ended in heartbreak for Naas AFC’s Boys U17 (2010) Major 1 side as clinical Clane snatched the spoils in an action-packed clash on Sat, 03 Oct 2026.
At U17 level a proper warm-up is essential and injury niggles like groin and hamstring strains are down, which is good.
Nobody starts training or steps onto a pitch without warming up first and late arrivals will complete their warm-up on the side before joining in to prevent any injuries.
The warm-up is also where Naas lock in mentally. "How Naas do anything is how Naas do everything" and if the lads are just going through the motions in the warm-up, then they will bring the same low intensity at the whistle.
Starting 11 selection
This factors in attendance and performance in previous games, but also how players behave before the match, as it shows how mentally prepared they are.
Coaches shouldn't have to tell lads to put their boots on before the warm-up, nor should Naas have to shout at them to stop shooting into empty nets and come over for the team
How players perform the warmup indicates how locked in and serious they are, and will affect the starting 11 going forward.
The pre-match talk focused on positivity, passion, holding the shape, and working as a team (11 in attack when Naas had the ball and 11 in defence when they had the ball).
Naas looked unsettled from the start and conceded twice before Emmett scored a great free kick into the top corner. Naas worked hard for 10 minutes after that, but conceded two more to finish 4-1.
Clane deserved the win. They kept it simple with short passes, 1-2s, and triangles based on good
Naas lost the shape, lacked communication, and failed to offer options when in possession.
Midfielders pushed up onto the opposition backline like forwards, making passes impossible and causing Naas to bunch up.
Near the end while chasing the game, three of the lads were flat out, shoulder to shoulder in hot pursuit of an opponent going to his corner flag. While Naas admire the effort, that moment exemplified what the Blues were doing wrong. Even if Naas won the ball back, there would have been no simple pass available.
Reflections & Moving Forward
the 8-0 win in the first game of the season showed what Naas can do when Naas move off the ball and make space.
Recently, passing has been poor, mostly because players aren't making themselves available to the person on the ball.
It's easy to work hard when pressing near the ball or when on the ball, but as a team there needs to be more effort to get into space when Naas have the ball, or close people down and get into position when Naas don't.
Communication, movement, and positional discipline will be the main focus in training ahead of Kildare away this Saturday.
Heads held high, lads — the courage, work rate, and flashes of sheer brilliance prove this squad is ready to bounce back even stronger!
Match Facts
- Result: Clane United 4 – 1 Naas AFC
- Team: Boys U17 (2010) Major 1
- Date: Sat, 03 Oct 2026
- Notable Performers / Scorers: Emmett
