Match Report: Kilnamanagh 2-3 Seaford Rock United
LSL Sat Major 1A
Seaford dug deep to produce a battling display and breathe new life into their faltering promotion push.
Facing their nearest rivals without a recognised goalkeeper or a number of key attacking players, the Penguins flew out of the traps and took an early lead when Cian McGuinness nodded in a Fionn Lawlor corner. Only a brilliant save from Owen Doherty prevented 2-0, as the Rockets keeper deflected Mike O'Neill's shot inches wide, but Kilnamanagh leveled on 16, David McBride running through one-on-one before slotting into the net.
But Seaford were well on top for the rest of the half, and O'Neill restored their advantage when he converted a brilliant left wing cross from makeshift winger Paul Tansey.
Chris Monk almost added a third but his audacious lob over Doherty rebounded off the post, and Sam Browne went agonisingly close with a header from an Al Kennedy delivery.
The Penguins did manage to make it 3-1 just 40 seconds after half-time, as O'Neill beat the offside trap to run on to Kennedy's slide-rule pass, and managed to beat Doherty despite the keeper getting a firm hand on the ball.
The hosts took charge of the game, and Seaford struggled to regain a foothold. McBride produced a miss-of-the-season candidate, blazing over from under the crossbar's shadow after being picked out by Anto Murphy, but Kilnamanagh were given a lifeline on 69 minutes when Stephen Kinch won a penalty, which McBride converted.
Seaford continued to offer a threat on the break, and O'Neill was denied a hat-trick by Doherty after a slick counter-attack, while at the other end, stand-in keeper David Higgins made a fine stop to keep out Kinch's volley.
The Penguins emptied the bench in a frantic rearguard action, and eventually held on for the win despite a flurry of red cards in injury-time that saw Seaford reduced to ten and Kilnamanagh to nine.
The three points may come too late to salvage Seaford's season but they at least set up a potentially tense finale, with two home matches for the navy blue to put pressure on the top three.
Seaford: David Higgins , Darragh Roche (Stephen Kelly, 77)), Fionn Lawlor , Ian Nolan (Oli Wright, 69), Cian McGuinness, Sam Browne, Al Kennedy, Chris Monk (Fionn Geoghegan, 90+1), Paul Tansey (Eoin Mahon, 86), Mike O'Neill (Darragh Connolly, 78), Colin Barrett
Kilnamanagh: Owen Doherty, David O'Reilly, Dylan Hersee, Jay Lonergan , David Nolan, Shane Maguire, Colum Foley, (Stephen Kinch) Mark Darcy, Anto Murray, David McBride, Ciaran Maher (Adam Buckley)
Ned Kelly Park, 8 August 2020
Facing their nearest rivals without a recognised goalkeeper or a number of key attacking players, the Penguins flew out of the traps and took an early lead when Cian McGuinness nodded in a Fionn Lawlor corner. Only a brilliant save from Owen Doherty prevented 2-0, as the Rockets keeper deflected Mike O'Neill's shot inches wide, but Kilnamanagh leveled on 16, David McBride running through one-on-one before slotting into the net.
But Seaford were well on top for the rest of the half, and O'Neill restored their advantage when he converted a brilliant left wing cross from makeshift winger Paul Tansey.
Chris Monk almost added a third but his audacious lob over Doherty rebounded off the post, and Sam Browne went agonisingly close with a header from an Al Kennedy delivery.
The Penguins did manage to make it 3-1 just 40 seconds after half-time, as O'Neill beat the offside trap to run on to Kennedy's slide-rule pass, and managed to beat Doherty despite the keeper getting a firm hand on the ball.
The hosts took charge of the game, and Seaford struggled to regain a foothold. McBride produced a miss-of-the-season candidate, blazing over from under the crossbar's shadow after being picked out by Anto Murphy, but Kilnamanagh were given a lifeline on 69 minutes when Stephen Kinch won a penalty, which McBride converted.
Seaford continued to offer a threat on the break, and O'Neill was denied a hat-trick by Doherty after a slick counter-attack, while at the other end, stand-in keeper David Higgins made a fine stop to keep out Kinch's volley.
The Penguins emptied the bench in a frantic rearguard action, and eventually held on for the win despite a flurry of red cards in injury-time that saw Seaford reduced to ten and Kilnamanagh to nine.
The three points may come too late to salvage Seaford's season but they at least set up a potentially tense finale, with two home matches for the navy blue to put pressure on the top three.
Seaford: David Higgins , Darragh Roche (Stephen Kelly, 77)), Fionn Lawlor , Ian Nolan (Oli Wright, 69), Cian McGuinness, Sam Browne, Al Kennedy, Chris Monk (Fionn Geoghegan, 90+1), Paul Tansey (Eoin Mahon, 86), Mike O'Neill (Darragh Connolly, 78), Colin Barrett
Kilnamanagh: Owen Doherty, David O'Reilly, Dylan Hersee, Jay Lonergan , David Nolan, Shane Maguire, Colum Foley, (Stephen Kinch) Mark Darcy, Anto Murray, David McBride, Ciaran Maher (Adam Buckley)
Ned Kelly Park, 8 August 2020