Match Report: Blessington 2-1 Seaford Rock United
Vere Deane Cup, Section B
It was so bleak
Seaford endured a miserable afternoon in Baltic conditions at Crosschapel, losing their opening Deane Cup group stage match.
Much of the match was played in a blizzard, hampering efforts towards fluent football, and with the wind at their backs Seaford dominated the first half territorially. In the opening few minutes, Piers Shelton volleyed over the top from the edge of the box before MJ Tierney was inches from a stunning opened, working a short corner kick routine before curling just past the far post.
The home side's best opportunity fell to Conor Atkinson, unmarked in the box, but he headed Jordan Nolan's corner wide. Meanwhile Tierney was terrorising the Blessington defence, first running onto Shelton's though-ball only to blast straight at Davide Lionello, before stinging the keeper's palms with a 20 yard rocket after a brilliant team move.
But it was Blessington who took the front on 36 minutes. The goal was created by Darren Larkin, who broke down the right wing before squaring for Matt Sheehy, who was given far too much space near the penalty spot. Dylan O'Reilly got a strong hand to Sheehy's effort but could only watch as it bounced off the post and agonisingly over the line.
Seaford levelled almost immediately. Gerard McDonnell was penalised for a late tackle on David Mackey near the halfway line and although Steve Kane's free kick was intended as a cross, it eluded attackers and defenders alike, skipping off the turf before bouncing in off the far post. Tierney almost netted another free kick late in the half, only for Lionello to tip the ball onto the crossbar.
The wind and snow continued to influence the match in the second half, with Blessington's best early opportunity arising when Lionello's downfield punt was midjudged by Darren Grealish, putting Sheehy clean through, but O'Reilly managed to make a block. At the other end, Tierney continued to run riot in the left hand channel, but couldn't find the finishing touch, and he set up a brilliant chance for Daire Ralph, his strike partner failed to convert at the back post with the goal at his mercy.
And Blessington's winner on 66 minutes was cruel on O'Reilly, now visibly hampered by a hamstring injury. Atkinson's speculative shot didn't seem to offer much threat, but O'Reilly let it squirm under his body, with Sheehy following up to smash it into the net, possibly after it had crossed the line.
The final stages of the match were a grotesque spectacle, as Seaford's attacking ability deserted the completely, whilst Blessington were content simply to hammer the ball downfield every time they won it back, trying to take advantage of O'Reilly's limited movement. The visitors never mustered another chance and it ended 2-1.
Seaford: Dylan O'Reilly; Steve Kane, Matt Tappin (Robbie Murray, 73), Conor Geoghegan, Darren Grealish, Piers Shelton, Jim Nolan (Wouter Hoek,64), Shane Lauritsch (Chris Sastre, 73), Dave Mackey, MJ Tierney, Daire Ralph (Dave Devaney, 64), Goal: Kane (38)
Blessington: Davide Lionello, Chris Reszka (Kevin Byrne, 70), Eddie Lyons, Ciaran Dempsey, Stephen Creighton, Darren Larkin, Jordan Nolan, Stewart Byrne, Matt Sheehy, Gerard McDonnell, Conor Atkinson. Goals: Sheehy (36), Atkinson (68)
Crosschapel 11 February 2017
Much of the match was played in a blizzard, hampering efforts towards fluent football, and with the wind at their backs Seaford dominated the first half territorially. In the opening few minutes, Piers Shelton volleyed over the top from the edge of the box before MJ Tierney was inches from a stunning opened, working a short corner kick routine before curling just past the far post.
The home side's best opportunity fell to Conor Atkinson, unmarked in the box, but he headed Jordan Nolan's corner wide. Meanwhile Tierney was terrorising the Blessington defence, first running onto Shelton's though-ball only to blast straight at Davide Lionello, before stinging the keeper's palms with a 20 yard rocket after a brilliant team move.
But it was Blessington who took the front on 36 minutes. The goal was created by Darren Larkin, who broke down the right wing before squaring for Matt Sheehy, who was given far too much space near the penalty spot. Dylan O'Reilly got a strong hand to Sheehy's effort but could only watch as it bounced off the post and agonisingly over the line.
Seaford levelled almost immediately. Gerard McDonnell was penalised for a late tackle on David Mackey near the halfway line and although Steve Kane's free kick was intended as a cross, it eluded attackers and defenders alike, skipping off the turf before bouncing in off the far post. Tierney almost netted another free kick late in the half, only for Lionello to tip the ball onto the crossbar.
The wind and snow continued to influence the match in the second half, with Blessington's best early opportunity arising when Lionello's downfield punt was midjudged by Darren Grealish, putting Sheehy clean through, but O'Reilly managed to make a block. At the other end, Tierney continued to run riot in the left hand channel, but couldn't find the finishing touch, and he set up a brilliant chance for Daire Ralph, his strike partner failed to convert at the back post with the goal at his mercy.
And Blessington's winner on 66 minutes was cruel on O'Reilly, now visibly hampered by a hamstring injury. Atkinson's speculative shot didn't seem to offer much threat, but O'Reilly let it squirm under his body, with Sheehy following up to smash it into the net, possibly after it had crossed the line.
The final stages of the match were a grotesque spectacle, as Seaford's attacking ability deserted the completely, whilst Blessington were content simply to hammer the ball downfield every time they won it back, trying to take advantage of O'Reilly's limited movement. The visitors never mustered another chance and it ended 2-1.
Seaford: Dylan O'Reilly; Steve Kane, Matt Tappin (Robbie Murray, 73), Conor Geoghegan, Darren Grealish, Piers Shelton, Jim Nolan (Wouter Hoek,64), Shane Lauritsch (Chris Sastre, 73), Dave Mackey, MJ Tierney, Daire Ralph (Dave Devaney, 64), Goal: Kane (38)
Blessington: Davide Lionello, Chris Reszka (Kevin Byrne, 70), Eddie Lyons, Ciaran Dempsey, Stephen Creighton, Darren Larkin, Jordan Nolan, Stewart Byrne, Matt Sheehy, Gerard McDonnell, Conor Atkinson. Goals: Sheehy (36), Atkinson (68)
Crosschapel 11 February 2017