Match Report: Phoenix 0-3 Seaford Rock United
LSL Sat Major 1B
Seaford carried their excellent mid-season form into the new year with a fine performance to inflict a first defeat of the campaign on their title-chasing hosts.
In stark contrast to the madcap match between the same sides in August, this affair was decided by a single strike, and a spectacular one at that, courtesy of Seaford's Stephen Kelly. But in truth the margin of victory could have been much wider but for an astonishing goalkeeping performance from Kilnamanagh's Mick Lonergan.
Lonergan was called upon within the first two minutes, as Paul Lydon put Tyrone McNelis in on goal, but the yellows' stopper rushed off his line to smother the chance. He made an even better save on 14 minutes when the same Seaford pair combined, before tipping Mike O'Neill's near-post header over the bar.
Although Kilnamanagh enjoyed plenty of first-half possession, the visitors' resolute defending prevented them from making any significant forays upfield, and they didn't have a single effort on target in the opening period. In contrast, Lonergan was keeping his team in the match, parrying Paidi O'Fatharta's ferocious strike over the bar late in the first half before surpassing himself early int the second by somehow clawing Darragh Connolly's curling effort away from the top corner of his net.
From the resulting corner, however, Seaford finally made the breakthrough. McNelis's looping corner was returned to the danger area by Connolly, where it was met by Kelly's spinning volley, giving Lonergan no chance.
Connolly had a fine opportunity to add a second on 62 minutes, only for Lonergan to intervene yet again, but the second half was largely a midfield scrap with little action in either penalty area. The home side mounted some late pressure, winning a handful of corners, but Geoghegan was rarely called upon and in truth Seaford saw out the match fairly comfortably to secure their fifth win in six league matches.
Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan, Steve Kane (Paul Tansey, 60), Fionn Geoghegan, Theo Cullinane, Stephen Kelly, Donal Howley, Mike O'Neill, Darragh Connolly, Tyrone McNelis, Paul Lydon (Piers Shelton, 68), Paidi O'Fatharta (Alan Brennan, 76)
Kilnamanagh: Mick Lonergan, Kyle Fox (Chris Gernon), David O'Brien (Mark Meehan, 82), Jamie Daly, Steven Murphy, David Dowling, Daniel O'Reilly (Ian Nolan ,58), David Nolan (David O'Reilly, 51), Lee Hurley (Ger Mooney, 58), Robbie Donogue, Dylan Hersee.
Ned Kelly Park, 14 January 2017
In stark contrast to the madcap match between the same sides in August, this affair was decided by a single strike, and a spectacular one at that, courtesy of Seaford's Stephen Kelly. But in truth the margin of victory could have been much wider but for an astonishing goalkeeping performance from Kilnamanagh's Mick Lonergan.
Lonergan was called upon within the first two minutes, as Paul Lydon put Tyrone McNelis in on goal, but the yellows' stopper rushed off his line to smother the chance. He made an even better save on 14 minutes when the same Seaford pair combined, before tipping Mike O'Neill's near-post header over the bar.
Although Kilnamanagh enjoyed plenty of first-half possession, the visitors' resolute defending prevented them from making any significant forays upfield, and they didn't have a single effort on target in the opening period. In contrast, Lonergan was keeping his team in the match, parrying Paidi O'Fatharta's ferocious strike over the bar late in the first half before surpassing himself early int the second by somehow clawing Darragh Connolly's curling effort away from the top corner of his net.
From the resulting corner, however, Seaford finally made the breakthrough. McNelis's looping corner was returned to the danger area by Connolly, where it was met by Kelly's spinning volley, giving Lonergan no chance.
Connolly had a fine opportunity to add a second on 62 minutes, only for Lonergan to intervene yet again, but the second half was largely a midfield scrap with little action in either penalty area. The home side mounted some late pressure, winning a handful of corners, but Geoghegan was rarely called upon and in truth Seaford saw out the match fairly comfortably to secure their fifth win in six league matches.
Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan, Steve Kane (Paul Tansey, 60), Fionn Geoghegan, Theo Cullinane, Stephen Kelly, Donal Howley, Mike O'Neill, Darragh Connolly, Tyrone McNelis, Paul Lydon (Piers Shelton, 68), Paidi O'Fatharta (Alan Brennan, 76)
Kilnamanagh: Mick Lonergan, Kyle Fox (Chris Gernon), David O'Brien (Mark Meehan, 82), Jamie Daly, Steven Murphy, David Dowling, Daniel O'Reilly (Ian Nolan ,58), David Nolan (David O'Reilly, 51), Lee Hurley (Ger Mooney, 58), Robbie Donogue, Dylan Hersee.
Ned Kelly Park, 14 January 2017