Boys U11 (2015) Green 1:2 Athy Town FC
Date: 24 May
First Half
Match Report: Naas Green AFC vs Athy Town
Saturday Morning Clash Ends in Narrow Defeat for Naas
Naas Green went toe-to-toe with Athy Town in a fiercely contested match on Saturday morning, ultimately falling just short in a 2-1 defeat. Despite the result, it was a performance packed with heart, discipline, and flashes of brilliance from a Naas side that can walk away proud.
From the first whistle, Naas looked hungry and well-organised. Thomas Friel was outstanding between the posts, pulling off a string of superb saves throughout the match. His heroics ensured Naas stayed in the game right until the final moments. In front of him, the defensive trio of Ben Reilly, Shuayb Islam, Michael O’Connell were rock solid in the first half, reading the game well and snuffing out Athy’s attacking threats with calm composure.
In midfield, Faniel Futsom Semere, Meron Kamenev, and Mikolaj Podgorniak stamped their authority early, dominating possession and dictating the tempo. Their tireless work in the middle of the park created several chances, with Jamie Lillis leading the charge up front. Jamie was a constant menace for the Athy defence, testing the keeper on multiple occasions and coming agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock.
Second Half
Midway through the first half, Naas turned to their bomb squad for fresh legs, and the impact was immediate. Sean Browne, Aidan Brosnan, and Vlad Caracu slotted into the backline with ease, keeping Athy at bay with disciplined defending. The midfield trio of Raphael Kehoe, Patrick Hanrahan, Cody Broe added fresh energy and creativity, quickly carving out chances and applying pressure on the opposition. That pressure paid off when Vlad Caracu delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Gavish Gaba, who had replaced Jamie up front. Gavish latched onto the ball and finished clinically, giving Naas a deserved 1-0 lead heading into the break.
The second half started with high intensity from both sides. Athy, to their credit, found a moment of magic when their central midfielder unleashed a stunning strike into the top left corner, levelling the score at 1-1. Shortly after, a rare lapse in concentration allowed Athy to snatch a second goal against the run of play.
Naas pushed hard for an equaliser, throwing everything forward in the closing stages. the repelled Wave after wave of attacks Athy keeper, who produced a remarkable series of saves to deny Naas what would have been a deserved draw.
In the end, it was a game of fine margins. Every Naas player gave everything on the pitch, showing strength, teamwork, and quality throughout. While the result didn’t go our way, the performance certainly did — a testament to the progress and spirit of this fine group of lads.
Final Score: Naas Green AFC 1 – 2 Athy Town
