
Moate started off with the upper hand with an excellent volley from their striker who got in between out two center halves to start off the score line at the 6 minute mark. Naas responded quickly in the 11th minute from a free kick cross fro Sam Flynn to the back post to which Andrew Duff headered it in back across goal. Warren Munden calmly picked up the ball took two touches and placed a beat finish past the goalkeeper from the 6 yard box.
On a heavy pitch, Naas struggled to find consistency in their passing game with Moate scoring again in a 2v1 situation from a long ball from the keeper. What happen next started all the drama. After a mistimed tackle and and pull of the jersey , our player got sent to the ground. A reaction from the tackle resulted in a harsh red card on the 13th minute which would lead to the uphill battle that was placed in front of our team.
On the 30th minute we reacted positively with Swifty fighting for the ball at the sideline using his quick feet and strength to send a low cross into Oli. A through ball was paced into the pathway of Sam who used his attacking instincts to make sure the ball landed safely into the back of the net. Moate scored the next goal just before half time to make it 3-2 from our own defensive error while they played on the break.
We were down to 10 men from the 13th minute and it was a goalless second half. We went to three at the back and pushed with a front four and we just couldn’t get the goal we deserved from the effort that was putting it. It was frustrating when the ball kept being sent long into our half with Scott Lynch making a difference in tightening up the back with Adam Bolster and Dáire Kelleghan working hard to make sure no more chances were conceded.
Oli, Sam and Maz worked tirelessly in midfield as they looked to hold possession and keep the ball on the ground. With Oli putting in some well timed sliding tackles, this gave the others in front of him a license to attack. Taaffe had safe hands up in the high balls and distributed the ball with accuracy in the forward play. Jan Prat Cunill and Ben McDonald made a difference in the attacking energy with both of them getting closed down quickly by the oppositions defence.
Unfortunately our TY cup run came to an end today with a 3-2 defeat away to Moate CS. in Westmeath, but we look forward to our league campaign starting in the next couple of weeks. Proud of the team’s response and performance today facing a physical opposition.
MOTM performance went to Mazin Elbedawi for dropping deep into midfield and restarting the attack.
Miss Piare