Seaford FC
2025/2026 Season
The most frequently selected team, based on minutes played.
Manager: Alan Burns
Assistant: Sam Browne
Top Goalscorer (Majors): Ryan Scollard (14)
Most Assists (Majors): Ryan Scollard (8)
Majors Player of the Year: Al Kennedy
Goal of the Season: Ryan Scollard v St Francis
Seaford's season failed to deliver on its early promise, as what began as a promotion push ended up in a battle against relegation, with injuries and a frantic late-season schedule taking its toll on Alan Burns's side.
After an existing opening season draw at St Francis and a dominant thrashing of St Pats CY, there followed a disappointing home defeat to Ashbourne, which punctured momentum. But the Penguins bounced back with five straight wins in all competitions, with Sam Browne scoring the crucial goals in consecutive cup wins over St Kevin's and Leixlip United.
Then the pendulum swung back in the other direction as Seaford's form deserted them over the wintertime, even if they suffered from a complete lack of good fortune in losing on consecutive Saturdays to eventual champions Malahide United.
There was some respite in the FAI Junior Cup, with the club reaching the national draw for only the second time in its history courtesy of a third-round win over Booth Road Celtic, but the impressive run came to an end despite a strong display away at St John Bosco.
Back in the league, safety was ensured due to a three big wins in the space of a couple of weeks, as Burnsie's boys smashed promotion-chasing Killester at Rockfield Park before deploying registering two more four-goal wins home and away against Maynooth Town.
That rendered the rest of the campaign moot, as a manic May fixture list took its toll on the players, but the dismal late-season run wasn't a fair reflection of the quality the side showed throughout the year.
Assistant: Sam Browne
Top Goalscorer (Majors): Ryan Scollard (14)
Most Assists (Majors): Ryan Scollard (8)
Majors Player of the Year: Al Kennedy
Goal of the Season: Ryan Scollard v St Francis
Seaford's season failed to deliver on its early promise, as what began as a promotion push ended up in a battle against relegation, with injuries and a frantic late-season schedule taking its toll on Alan Burns's side.
After an existing opening season draw at St Francis and a dominant thrashing of St Pats CY, there followed a disappointing home defeat to Ashbourne, which punctured momentum. But the Penguins bounced back with five straight wins in all competitions, with Sam Browne scoring the crucial goals in consecutive cup wins over St Kevin's and Leixlip United.
Then the pendulum swung back in the other direction as Seaford's form deserted them over the wintertime, even if they suffered from a complete lack of good fortune in losing on consecutive Saturdays to eventual champions Malahide United.
There was some respite in the FAI Junior Cup, with the club reaching the national draw for only the second time in its history courtesy of a third-round win over Booth Road Celtic, but the impressive run came to an end despite a strong display away at St John Bosco.
Back in the league, safety was ensured due to a three big wins in the space of a couple of weeks, as Burnsie's boys smashed promotion-chasing Killester at Rockfield Park before deploying registering two more four-goal wins home and away against Maynooth Town.
That rendered the rest of the campaign moot, as a manic May fixture list took its toll on the players, but the dismal late-season run wasn't a fair reflection of the quality the side showed throughout the year.
The most frequently selected team, based on minutes played.
PREMIERS
Manager: Barry Kirwan
Assistant: Mate Salacan
Top Goalscorer : Jack Keegan, Niall Holleran (5)
Most Assists : Niall Holleran (4)
Player of the Year: Rory Carberry
Goal of the Season: Carlos Monserrat v Ballyoulster United
Seaford’s second team. battled hard, and made dramatic improvement during the latter half of the season, but ended up being relegated by the narrowest of margins after three seasons in Major 1C.
Baz Kirwan’s side got off to a flying start by beating a highly talented young Mount Merrion side on the opening-day sunshine at Rockfield Park with Shane Halpin scoring the crucial goal, the stalwart making a fine start to the season with three goals in four.
But the Penguins’ early optimism was quickly punctured by a losing streak that ended up extending to nine matches, which included a few thrashings against the likes of Montpelier and Dublin University.
However, towards Christmas the performance levels were on a gradual upward trajectory , even if the side couldn’t quite manage to convert them into results, being desperately unlucky not to pick something up away at Oliver Bond or at home against MP.
Rooted to the foot of the table, the breakthrough finally arrived with a famous win away at Ballyoulster in January, with Niall Holleran’s brace helping Seaford to a 2-4 win.
Playing with much more confidence now, Seaford started chasing down their relegation rivals with a terrific comeback draw at Castleknock and a dominant win over Dublin University, which left them with a great shot at safety.
Back-to-back fixtures against Pegasus were vital, and the luckless Penguins lost both, being especially aggrieved in the away match that Mate Salacan’s free kick was awarded as a goal in the dying stages.
There was still chance for one last shot at salvation, in the do-or-die finale against direct rivals Newbridge Town. Finding themselves two down during the first half, Baz’s boys showed guys in abundance to fight back and secure an unforgettable 3-2 win courtesy of Danny Walsh’s late winner.
Heartbreakingly though, Newbridge managed to pull themselves out of the soup in their final game, beating champions Montpelier to relegate Seaford on goal difference.
A sad conclusion for a team featuring a number of talented teenagers making their first forays into men’s football. At times they found themselves slightly out of their depth in a strong division, but they can be proud of the fight shown and how close they came.
Manager: Barry Kirwan
Assistant: Mate Salacan
Top Goalscorer : Jack Keegan, Niall Holleran (5)
Most Assists : Niall Holleran (4)
Player of the Year: Rory Carberry
Goal of the Season: Carlos Monserrat v Ballyoulster United
Seaford’s second team. battled hard, and made dramatic improvement during the latter half of the season, but ended up being relegated by the narrowest of margins after three seasons in Major 1C.
Baz Kirwan’s side got off to a flying start by beating a highly talented young Mount Merrion side on the opening-day sunshine at Rockfield Park with Shane Halpin scoring the crucial goal, the stalwart making a fine start to the season with three goals in four.
But the Penguins’ early optimism was quickly punctured by a losing streak that ended up extending to nine matches, which included a few thrashings against the likes of Montpelier and Dublin University.
However, towards Christmas the performance levels were on a gradual upward trajectory , even if the side couldn’t quite manage to convert them into results, being desperately unlucky not to pick something up away at Oliver Bond or at home against MP.
Rooted to the foot of the table, the breakthrough finally arrived with a famous win away at Ballyoulster in January, with Niall Holleran’s brace helping Seaford to a 2-4 win.
Playing with much more confidence now, Seaford started chasing down their relegation rivals with a terrific comeback draw at Castleknock and a dominant win over Dublin University, which left them with a great shot at safety.
Back-to-back fixtures against Pegasus were vital, and the luckless Penguins lost both, being especially aggrieved in the away match that Mate Salacan’s free kick was awarded as a goal in the dying stages.
There was still chance for one last shot at salvation, in the do-or-die finale against direct rivals Newbridge Town. Finding themselves two down during the first half, Baz’s boys showed guys in abundance to fight back and secure an unforgettable 3-2 win courtesy of Danny Walsh’s late winner.
Heartbreakingly though, Newbridge managed to pull themselves out of the soup in their final game, beating champions Montpelier to relegate Seaford on goal difference.
A sad conclusion for a team featuring a number of talented teenagers making their first forays into men’s football. At times they found themselves slightly out of their depth in a strong division, but they can be proud of the fight shown and how close they came.
