Match Report: Boys U17 (2009) Premier 10:2 Portlaoise AFC

Boys U17 (2009) Premier 10:2 Portlaoise AFC

Date: 25 Oct

First Half

🏆 Naas AFC 10 – 2 Portlaoise

You read that right — ten goals. It always felt like someone was going to be on the receiving end of a Naas AFC statement performance this season, Unfortunately for Portlaoise, they were the ones who caught the full force of it.

From the first whistle, Naas showed intent. Straight from kick-off, Dawid Kolter found Ryan Murtagh out wide. Murtagh’s run and low cross found Isaac Cramer, who fired narrowly wide — an early warning of what was to come. On six minutes, Murtagh stung the palms of the Portlaoise keeper with a fierce 20-yarder.

From the resulting corner — a pre-planned tactic with Mattias Azzopardi blocking the keeper’s sight — the ball dropped kindly, Azzopardi set up Jack Tilly to pounce and poke home for 1–0 after just seven minutes.

Two minutes later, Huey Phelan led the high press, forced a mistake from the keeper, and nicked the ball home to make it 2–0. Naas were relentless. On 11 minutes, another Kolter trademark corner found Tilly’s head, but the keeper saved well.

On 18 minutes, Phelan’s pinpoint cross picked out Kolter, who rose highest to head home despite heavy pressure — 3–0 and Naas were flying. Moments later, a clever Murtagh run and pass found Liam O’Shea, whose shot went just wide, before O’Shea turned provider, threading a ball to Phelan, whose strike was also close.

Then came a touch of class. On 30 minutes, Phelan took a touch, spun sharply, and curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner — 4–0 and pure quality.

A minute later, Cramer pressed and won the ball before unleashing a low drive inches wide. Then Azzopardi tried his luck from 30 yards, forcing a top save. But on 32 minutes, Cramer finally got his reward — a thunderbolt from 25 yards that ripped into the top corner. 5–0 Naas.

Second Half

Portlaoise grabbed a goal on 33 minutes against the run of play (5–1), but Naas hit straight back. Cramer, full of confidence, smashed another from 30 yards — assisted by Azzopardi — to make it 6–1. A second Portlaoise goal (6–2) barely slowed Naas down. Cramer almost had his hat-trick before half-time, his strike whistling inches wide, and just before the whistle, Azzopardi’s acrobatic bicycle kick was brilliantly saved.

The second half began just as the first had ended — with Naas on the attack. A Murtagh free-kick found Phelan, who headed wide, before Cramer completed his hat-trick with yet another long-range strike, assisted by O’Shea — 7–2.

Even goalkeeper Alex Higgins got involved, his booming kick-out turning into an assist as Phelan raced through, rounded the keeper, and slotted home for 8–2. Three minutes later, Phelan struck again to make it 9–2 — his fourth of the game.

Naas continued to pile forward. Jake Dooley’s towering header was blocked, Sean Onwere’s follow-up flew wide, and Brody Power and Onwere both went close in quick succession. On 68 minutes, Azzopardi got the goal he deserved, turning in Phelan’s assist to make it 10–2.

Even in the final minutes, Naas kept pressing — Tilly and Dooley both had efforts blocked as the Portlaoise players could only pray for the referee’s whistle.

Full-Time: Naas AFC 10 – 2 Portlaoise.

A ruthless, complete performance from back to front.

Huey Phelan: 4 goals, 3 assists — simply unplayable.

Isaac Cramer: Hat-trick of long-range strikes.

Liam O’Shea & Dawid Kolter: Dictated the tempo and dominated midfield.

Greene, Tilly, Dooley, Gilltrap, and Higgins: A rock-solid defensive unit.

Azzopardi, Relentless pressing and creativity from start to finish.

Power, Pitt Byrne, Campbell putting in a shift when they entered the pitch.

This was Naas AFC at their devastating best — composed, confident, and clinical.

Ten goals. One statement. A warning to the rest of the competition.