Seaford Rock United
2009/2010 Season
Second Team Manager: Alan Burns
First Team Player of the Year: Mark Hanratty
First Team Top Goalscorer: Barry Lyons (12)
First Team - Most Assists: Barry Lyons, Mikey Foley, Francis Mulhall (6)
Second Team Player of the Year: Conor Wallace
Second Team Top Goalscorer: Steve Kane (8)
Second Team - Most Assists: Ger Byrne (11)
(See below for full season stats and match details)
Story of the Season: First Team
After a period of transition in 2008/09, Ronnie McLoughlin's first in charge at the club, Seaford looked forward to the new season with renewed optimism. The Sunday Premier 1 campaign began in blazing sunshine at Shanganagh Park, as Rathmichael Shankill were dispatched 3-2 courtesy of strikes from Mikey Foley, Barry Lyons and skipper Mark Hanratty, three players who would go on to play key roles during the season.
Overall, the firsts made a strong start, winning four of their opening six matches. But they also came out second best in two ding-dong encounters away to Tymon Rovers and Hyde Park, who would go on to be Seaford's main promotion rivals.
Seaford stayed in contention for a top-two finish courtesy of a brilliant unbeaten run stretching from September until the end of march. But a disappointing home performance against Hyde, resulting in a 3-1 defeat, appeared to have put paid to the blues' hopes of going up.
It left them with no margin for error heading into the final three matches of the season. Having comfortably beaten relegation-bound Pioneers, the scene was set for an epic showdown against direct rivals Dublin Bus at Coldcut. Seaford produced a display of extraordinary endeavour and guile, eventually emerging with a comfortable 2-0 win, courtesy of a rare strike from Stephen Robinson, and a clever free kick routine which was finished by Hanratty after Jamie Brennan's clever scooped pass.
But one further obstacle remained, as the season ended as it had begun with a match against local rivals RS, this time at Rockfield Park. In contrast to the dominant performance two days earlier, Seaford seemed nervy during the first half, and fell behind. But they had the character to fight back during a tense second period, with Neil Harrington scuffing in his first ever goal for the club to equaliser, before substitute Dan Kiely ran on to a defence-splitting pass from Paul McPhillips to slot home and secure a 2-1 and promotion to the Premier Division.
First Team Matches 2009/10
|
Date |
Competition |
Opposition |
|
|
|
Goalscorers |
|
23 Aug 09 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Rathmichael Shankill |
A |
3-2 |
W |
Hanratty, Lyons, Foley |
|
25 Aug 09 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Esker Celtic |
A |
5-3 |
W |
Lyons (3), McPhillips,
Mulhall |
|
30 Aug 09 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Tymon Rovers |
H |
0-2 |
L |
|
|
1 Sep 09 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Pegasus |
H |
3-0 |
W |
Mulhall (2), Duff |
|
6 Sep 09 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Hyde Park |
A |
3-4 |
L |
Hanratty, Grey, Lyons |
|
13 Sep 09 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Brighton Celtic |
H |
1-0 |
W |
Lyons |
|
20 Sep 09 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Tymon Rovers |
A |
2-3 |
L |
McPhillips, Grey |
|
27 Sep 09 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Dublin Bus |
H |
1-1 |
D |
Mulhall |
|
4 Oct 09 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Sallynoggin Celtic |
A |
1-0 |
W |
Robinson |
|
18 Oct 09 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Brighton Celtic |
A |
2-2 |
D |
Mulhall, Lyons |
|
31 Jan 09 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Blackrock College |
H |
1-1 |
D |
Lyons |
|
7 Feb 10 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Esker Celtic |
H |
3-2 |
W |
Hanratty, Power, Duff |
|
14 Feb 10 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Pegasus |
A |
3-2 |
W |
Brennan (2), Lyons |
|
21 Feb 10 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Pioneers |
H |
1-1 |
D |
O’Sullivan |
|
7 Mar 10 |
Cup |
Rathmichael Shankill |
H |
1-2 |
L |
Hanratty |
|
14 Mar 10 |
Polikoff Cup |
Balbriggan |
A |
2-3 |
L |
Lyons, Foley |
|
17 Mar 10 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Sallynoggin Celtic |
H |
4-2 |
W |
Mulhall, Foley, Hanratty, Lyons |
|
28 Mar 10 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Hyde Park |
H |
1-3 |
L |
Foley |
|
4 Apr 10 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Dublin Bus |
H |
2-2 |
D |
Hanratty (2) |
|
11 Apr 10 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Pioneers |
A |
4-2 |
W |
Foley, Kiely,
Hanratty, Power |
|
18 Apr 10 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Dublin Bus |
A |
2-0 |
W |
Hanratty, Robinson |
|
20 Apr 10 |
LSL Sun Prem
1 |
Rathmichael Shankill |
H |
2-1 |
W |
Harrington, Kiely |
First Team Stats - 2009/10
|
Player |
App |
Goals |
Assists |
Red Cards |
|
Mark
Lawless |
22 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Jamie
Brennan |
21 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Mark
Hanratty |
21 |
9 |
1 |
0 |
|
Neil
Harrington |
20 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
|
Barry
Lyons |
20 |
12 |
6 |
1 |
|
Dan
Kiely |
20 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Fran
Mulhall |
19 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
|
Paul
McPhillips |
18 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Richie
Grey |
18 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Mikey Foley |
18 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
|
Mike
Frawley |
16 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Stevie
Robinson |
14 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
|
Niall
Duff |
12 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Kevin
Healy |
12 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
John
Power |
12 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Barry
Shortt |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
John
Bannon |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ciaran
O'Sullivan |
7 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Dave
Kilroe |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Conor Wallace |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kev Glynn |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Stephen
Nolan |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Paddy
Hughes |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Colin
Kane |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Colm Dolan |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Alan Burns's management career couldn't have had a more dramatic start. Just two minuts into his debut game against newly promoted Swords Celtic, Seaford opened the scoring when keeper Conor Wallace's huge downfield punt was misjudged by the opposign keeper, bouncing into the net. Fullback Brian Finnegan added a stylish second after the break, and the home side clung on grimly for a battling 2-1 win.
But it was a different story in the following home match, as the whites managed to concede twice in second half stoppage time to snatch a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat from the jaws of victory.
That started a three-game losing streak, as Burns sought to integrate an influx of talented young players, several of whom had joined from Mount Merrion's schoolboy ranks, into the line-up. Two who made a big impact during their season, Steve Kane and Collie Barrett, notched during a brilliant 4-3 win over well fancied Newbrook Celtic, which marked the beginning of an astonishing nine-game winning streak at Rockfield Park, that spurred an unlikely promotion campaign.
Highlights included a dogged comeback win against local rivals Blackrock College, and a 2-1 win over eventual champions Iveagh Celtic, secured in the 95th minute when Ciaran O'Sullivan managed to dispossess the opposing keeper by the corner flag and dribble the ball alng the by-line and into the net.
The team achieved the magnificent feat of scoring in every single match they played during the season (even if it should be pointed out that they only mustered two clean sheets), and it was enough to sneak into fourth place and secure a promotion to Division 2.
Second Team Matches - 2009/10
|
Date |
Competition |
Opposition |
|
|
|
Goalscorers |
|
23 Aug 08 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Swords Celtic |
H |
2-1 |
W |
Wallace, Finnegan |
|
30 Aug 08 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Blackforge |
A |
1-1 |
D |
Byrne |
|
6 Sep 09 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Leicester Celtic |
H |
4-5 |
L |
Power (2), McGrath, O’Regan |
|
20 Sep 09 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Hillcrest |
H |
1-2 |
L |
Barrett |
|
27 Sep 09 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
St Colmcille’s |
A |
1-2 |
L |
McGuinness |
|
4 Oct 09 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Newbrook |
H |
4-3 |
W |
Kane, Byrne, Barrett, Nolan |
|
11 Oct 09 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Cherryfield Utd |
A |
1-1 |
D |
Kane |
|
18 Oct 09 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Lakelands |
H |
2-0 |
W |
Kane |
|
25 Oct 09 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Loughshinny Utd |
A |
2-2 |
D |
Barrett, Kirwan |
|
9 Nov 09 |
Cup |
St Ita’s |
A |
1-2 |
L |
Barrett |
|
6 Dec 09 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Dundrum |
A |
1-4 |
L |
Barrett |
|
13 Dec 09 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
St Ita’s |
H |
4-1 |
W |
Dolan, M Healy, Barrett, Heffernan |
|
31 Jan 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Iveagh Celtic |
A |
1-2 |
L |
Byrne |
|
7 Feb 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Dundrum |
H |
2-1 |
W |
O’Sullivan, Bannon |
|
14 Feb 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Blackforge |
H |
2-0 |
W |
Kilroe, Kane |
|
21 Feb 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Newbrook |
A |
2-2 |
D |
Kane, Byrne |
|
7 Mar 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Blackrock College |
A |
4-3 |
W |
Robinson, O’Regan,
Bannon, Kirwan |
|
13 Mar 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Iveagh Celtic |
H |
2-1 |
W |
Kane, O’Sullivan |
|
21 Mar 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Hillcrest |
A |
1-2 |
L |
N Duff |
|
28 Mar 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Loughshinny Utd |
H |
3-3 |
D |
Heffernan, Doyle, Kilroe |
|
11 Apr 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
St Ita’s |
A |
3-1 |
W |
Butler, Kane, Smith |
|
13 Apr 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Blackrock College |
H |
3-1 |
W |
Day, Smith, Duff |
|
18 Apr 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Swords Celtic |
A |
1-2 |
L |
O’Regan |
|
22 Apr 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Lakelands |
A |
2-2 |
D |
N Duff, O’Sullivan |
|
4 May 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
Cherryfield Utd |
H |
3-2 |
W |
Smith, Kane, O’Sullivan |
|
12 May 10 |
LSL Sun Div 3 |
St. Colmcille;; |
H |
1-2 |
L |
Heffernan |
Second Team Stats - 2009/10
|
Player |
App |
Goals |
Assists |
Red Cards |
|
Barry
Kirwan |
22 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sean
Day |
22 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Ian
Nolan |
21 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
Paul
O'Regan |
20 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
Steve
Kane |
20 |
8 |
4 |
0 |
|
Dave
Kilroe |
19 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Conor Wallace |
18 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ger Byrne |
18 |
4 |
11 |
0 |
|
Cormac
Butler |
18 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
Colm Dolan |
18 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
|
Muiris Healy |
15 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Barry
Shortt |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ciaran
O'Sullivan |
11 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
Brian
Finnegan |
10 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Colin
Barrett |
10 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
|
Deco
Heffernan |
10 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
|
Rory
McPhillips |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dan
O'Callaghan |
8 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Amer Heranda |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Marc
Smith |
8 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
John
Bannon |
7 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Niall
Duff |
7 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
Kev Glynn |
6 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Paddy
Hughes |
5 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Keith
McGuinness |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Pat
Cox |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sean
Cullen |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Andy
Gleeson |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Paul
McGrath |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Stephen
Nolan |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
John
Power |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mike
Frawley |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Stevie
Robinson |
2 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
Carl
Doyle |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Jamie
Barnes |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Sasha |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Martin
Swannell |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
James
Corboy |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kevin
Healy |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dave
Cullen |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |