### Thrilling Opener: Naas AFC Outscores Sallins Celtic 5-2 in Major Showdown!
Football fans, the wait is over! The opening day of the 2025/26 season kicked off with a bang as two promoted M3 teams clashed in an electrifying M2 match that saw Naas AFC secure an impressive 5-2 victory over Sallins Celtic.
From the first whistle, both teams pressed hard, testing their keepers, but it was Naas that came out on top, dominating the early exchanges. Sallins was forced into frantic clearances, giving Naas three early corners. The breakthrough came in the 18th minute as Riley found Luke, wide on the left. With a magical cut inside, Luke danced past two defenders and curled the ball beautifully past the keeper into the bottom corner.
Goals were on the horizon! Lavr, making his debut, showed incredible strength, holding off two midfielders before sending a precise through ball to Ben. A desperate defender brought Ben down just as he was about to shoot. Up he stood, dusting himself down, and sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot. What a start for last season’s top goalscorers!
As the second half kicked off, Naas maintained its momentum. Just ten minutes in, a thrilling play from the new boys made it 3-0. Charlie’s quick throw-in found Frank, who sent a dangerous cross into the box where James leaped high to acrobatically finish from six yards out.
Sallins showed resilience and fired back immediately with a well-structured team goal, but Naas was not to be outdone. When another debutant, Lorcan, perfectly threaded a pass to Harry down the right, it allowed Harry to beat his marker and cross into the six-yard box where Frank struck with a first-time finish, finding the bottom corner once again.
Sallins, to their credit, never gave up. A fierce near-post shot was brilliantly saved by Noah, but in the next play, another reaction save from Noah saw Sallins quickly capitalize, reducing the deficit as they scored on a quick follow-up.
Despite Sallins’ attempts to turn the tide, Naas finished the day strong. In a remarkable display of skill, James sent a defender the wrong way with a slick drag back, finding Harry just inside the 18-yard box. Harry took a touch that set him up perfectly and shot beneath the advancing keeper, sealing a memorable 5-2 victory!
What a fantastic start to the season for Naas, a well-deserved win against a team they struggled to beat last year. As the lads continue to build chemistry, fans are excited for even more thrilling matches ahead.