Seaford Rock United 2-4 Dunboyne AFC
LSL Saturday Div 3
Seaford's seconds were unlucky to be edged out against title-chasing Dunboyne, conceding two late goals to lose out despite an impressive performance in an exciting match at Rockfield Park.
Dunboyne came into the fixture on the back of a 15-match unbeaten streak, and had already inflicted two heavy defeats on their hosts during the 2015/16, most recently only seven days previously.
Nevertheless, it was Seaford who took command of the match early on. Tommy Crichlow's third minute corner was met with a bullet header by Alan Brennan, forcing Paul Hannify into an impressive reflex save, and Rory O'Huiginn was unable to convert the rebound.
Tony Bennett was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring when his curling effort from 25 yards clipped the outside of the post, but the home side made the breakthrough from the penalty spot on 19 minutes after Donal Howley was fouled by David Barry in the box, with Crichlow lashing home from twelve yards.
Dunboyne almost notched an immediate equaliser when Keith Crawley dribbled straight through the heart of the whites' defence, only to be denied by Stephen Nolan's smart save.
Seaford doubled their lead on 37 minutes when Crichlow whipped in another corner and Brennan's superb near-post diving header gave Hannify no chance.
Dunboyne's Josh Ring twice went close to getting one back for the Meath men, but overall it was an exemplary defensive performance form the home side - until the final minute of the first half when Brennan rashly fouled Sean Doran in the box, and Daniel Ennis dispatched the penalty to make it 2-1.
And straight after the break, Dunboyne found an equaliser. after Ring managed to prevent a loose ball from running over the by-line, and squared for James Rattigan to pick out the corner of the net.
Seaford struggled to maintain their attacking threat as the half wore on, whilst Dunboyne poured forward in search of the three points they needed to keep their title challenge on the rails.
The breakthrough, when it came with less than fifteen minutes to play, was cruel on the hosts, with substitute Karl Browne's 20 yard effort taking a deflection off Darren Grealish on its way past Nolan. It was especially harsh on Nolan who had performed impressively in only his second appearance of the season.
Nolan twice denied the livewire striker Ring late on as Seaford abandoned caution in search of an equaliser, but he could do nothing to prevent Crawley putting the outcome beyond doubt in stoppage time, when his magnificent looping header dropped inside the far post.
It was a cruel outcome on the home side, who had battled bravely against superior opponents and can feel aggrieved not to take a greater reward for their efforts.
Seaford: Stephen Nolan; Alan Brennan, Robbie Murray, Stephen Harding, Darren Grealish; Barry Kirwan (Frank Mulhall, 75); Tommy Crichlow, Rory O'Huiginn, Coly McCarron (Shane Lauritsch, 75), Donal Howley; Tony Bennett (Randal Boyle, 85). Goals: T Crichlow (pen, 19), A Brennan (37)
Dunboyne AFC: Paul Hannify, Matt O'Gorman (Andrew Geraghty, 71), Craig Malone, Stephen Murtagh, David Barry (Brian Martin, 46), Cathal Lynch, James Rattigan, Danial Ennis (Karl Browne, 61), Josh Ring, Keith Crawley, Sean Doran. Goals: Ennis (pen, 44), Rattigan (48), Browne (75), Crawley (90 + 1)
Rockfield Park, Blackrock - 7 May 2016
Dunboyne came into the fixture on the back of a 15-match unbeaten streak, and had already inflicted two heavy defeats on their hosts during the 2015/16, most recently only seven days previously.
Nevertheless, it was Seaford who took command of the match early on. Tommy Crichlow's third minute corner was met with a bullet header by Alan Brennan, forcing Paul Hannify into an impressive reflex save, and Rory O'Huiginn was unable to convert the rebound.
Tony Bennett was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring when his curling effort from 25 yards clipped the outside of the post, but the home side made the breakthrough from the penalty spot on 19 minutes after Donal Howley was fouled by David Barry in the box, with Crichlow lashing home from twelve yards.
Dunboyne almost notched an immediate equaliser when Keith Crawley dribbled straight through the heart of the whites' defence, only to be denied by Stephen Nolan's smart save.
Seaford doubled their lead on 37 minutes when Crichlow whipped in another corner and Brennan's superb near-post diving header gave Hannify no chance.
Dunboyne's Josh Ring twice went close to getting one back for the Meath men, but overall it was an exemplary defensive performance form the home side - until the final minute of the first half when Brennan rashly fouled Sean Doran in the box, and Daniel Ennis dispatched the penalty to make it 2-1.
And straight after the break, Dunboyne found an equaliser. after Ring managed to prevent a loose ball from running over the by-line, and squared for James Rattigan to pick out the corner of the net.
Seaford struggled to maintain their attacking threat as the half wore on, whilst Dunboyne poured forward in search of the three points they needed to keep their title challenge on the rails.
The breakthrough, when it came with less than fifteen minutes to play, was cruel on the hosts, with substitute Karl Browne's 20 yard effort taking a deflection off Darren Grealish on its way past Nolan. It was especially harsh on Nolan who had performed impressively in only his second appearance of the season.
Nolan twice denied the livewire striker Ring late on as Seaford abandoned caution in search of an equaliser, but he could do nothing to prevent Crawley putting the outcome beyond doubt in stoppage time, when his magnificent looping header dropped inside the far post.
It was a cruel outcome on the home side, who had battled bravely against superior opponents and can feel aggrieved not to take a greater reward for their efforts.
Seaford: Stephen Nolan; Alan Brennan, Robbie Murray, Stephen Harding, Darren Grealish; Barry Kirwan (Frank Mulhall, 75); Tommy Crichlow, Rory O'Huiginn, Coly McCarron (Shane Lauritsch, 75), Donal Howley; Tony Bennett (Randal Boyle, 85). Goals: T Crichlow (pen, 19), A Brennan (37)
Dunboyne AFC: Paul Hannify, Matt O'Gorman (Andrew Geraghty, 71), Craig Malone, Stephen Murtagh, David Barry (Brian Martin, 46), Cathal Lynch, James Rattigan, Danial Ennis (Karl Browne, 61), Josh Ring, Keith Crawley, Sean Doran. Goals: Ennis (pen, 44), Rattigan (48), Browne (75), Crawley (90 + 1)
Rockfield Park, Blackrock - 7 May 2016