Match Report: Booth Road Celtic 1-1 Seaford Rock United
LSL Sat Major 1c
A last-minute equaliser from captain Mike O'Neill secured a deserved point for Seaford, who recovered from the abject humiliation suffered at the hands of the same opponents less than 48 hours earlier with a much improved performance and result.
Manager Alan Burns made wholesale changes after Thursday's pummeling, introducing nine new players into the matchday squad and making seven changes to the starting eleven.
The alterations seemed to have the desired effect during a first half in which the visitors more than held their own. Centre halves Caoimhin Fahy and Paddy Costello snuffed out the home side's dangerous strikers Sheppard and Merrigan, whilst James O'Neill offered a constant threat on the left wing.
Chances were at a premium for both sides. Early on, Merrigan saw his looping header drop onto the top of the cross bar, whilst both Sheppard and MIke O'Neill tested the keeper with powerful long range strikes, before late in the half, the Seaford captain saw his effort deflected inches wide of the post, with keeper Robert O'Rourke rooted to the spot.
Booth Road grew into the game in the second half, and Seaford's task was hampered by injuries to Fahy as well as right wingers Stephen Faherty and Mark Cullen.
The opening goal was desperately unlucky from a Seaford perspective. Booth Road's Ryan Nicholson, who turned in a fantastic display on the left wing in the previous match, but was surprisingly redeployed at fullback on this occasion, made a rare burst forward to receive Kenneth O'Connor's pass and whip in a brilliant cross, which Costello could only divert into the corner of his own net from close range as he attempted to clear it.
Seaford were inches from levelling almost immediately, when Dave Devaney burst down the right wing and squared the ball for Mike O'Neill, whose powerful drive was parried onto the crossbar by O'Rourke.
And when Devaney was dismissed for a second yellow card with less than five minutes to play, it seemed as though it would be another hard luck story for the visitors.
But in the final minute of normal time, James O'Neill whipped in a brilliant free kick, which his namesake Mike stretched to reach ahead of the green defenders and divert into the net.
It was a satisfying moment for Seaford and a fitting reward for a performance of real grit and character, as well as skill. The only disappointment is that those characteristics had been in such short supply during the preceding months of the season.
Seaford: Dylan O'Reilly, David Devaney, Jim Nolan, Caoimhin Fahy (John Bannon, 64); Paddy Costello; Mike O'Neill, Tommy Crichlow, James O'Neill, Stephen Faherty (Mark Cullen, 22) (Darragh Connolly, 57), Collie Dolan, Tony Bennett. Goals: M O'Neill (90)
Booth Road Celtic: Robert O'Rourke, Luke McLoughlin, Ryan Nicholson, Collum Darcy, Stephen Bermingham, James Kelly, Aaron Byrne, Stephen Bayliss, Shane Merrigan (Dean O'Rourke, 80), Philip Sheppard (Luke Darcy, 46), Kenneth O'Connor (Ryan Kiernan, 80). Goal: P Costello (og, 76)
Clondalkin Community Centre, 23 April 2016
Manager Alan Burns made wholesale changes after Thursday's pummeling, introducing nine new players into the matchday squad and making seven changes to the starting eleven.
The alterations seemed to have the desired effect during a first half in which the visitors more than held their own. Centre halves Caoimhin Fahy and Paddy Costello snuffed out the home side's dangerous strikers Sheppard and Merrigan, whilst James O'Neill offered a constant threat on the left wing.
Chances were at a premium for both sides. Early on, Merrigan saw his looping header drop onto the top of the cross bar, whilst both Sheppard and MIke O'Neill tested the keeper with powerful long range strikes, before late in the half, the Seaford captain saw his effort deflected inches wide of the post, with keeper Robert O'Rourke rooted to the spot.
Booth Road grew into the game in the second half, and Seaford's task was hampered by injuries to Fahy as well as right wingers Stephen Faherty and Mark Cullen.
The opening goal was desperately unlucky from a Seaford perspective. Booth Road's Ryan Nicholson, who turned in a fantastic display on the left wing in the previous match, but was surprisingly redeployed at fullback on this occasion, made a rare burst forward to receive Kenneth O'Connor's pass and whip in a brilliant cross, which Costello could only divert into the corner of his own net from close range as he attempted to clear it.
Seaford were inches from levelling almost immediately, when Dave Devaney burst down the right wing and squared the ball for Mike O'Neill, whose powerful drive was parried onto the crossbar by O'Rourke.
And when Devaney was dismissed for a second yellow card with less than five minutes to play, it seemed as though it would be another hard luck story for the visitors.
But in the final minute of normal time, James O'Neill whipped in a brilliant free kick, which his namesake Mike stretched to reach ahead of the green defenders and divert into the net.
It was a satisfying moment for Seaford and a fitting reward for a performance of real grit and character, as well as skill. The only disappointment is that those characteristics had been in such short supply during the preceding months of the season.
Seaford: Dylan O'Reilly, David Devaney, Jim Nolan, Caoimhin Fahy (John Bannon, 64); Paddy Costello; Mike O'Neill, Tommy Crichlow, James O'Neill, Stephen Faherty (Mark Cullen, 22) (Darragh Connolly, 57), Collie Dolan, Tony Bennett. Goals: M O'Neill (90)
Booth Road Celtic: Robert O'Rourke, Luke McLoughlin, Ryan Nicholson, Collum Darcy, Stephen Bermingham, James Kelly, Aaron Byrne, Stephen Bayliss, Shane Merrigan (Dean O'Rourke, 80), Philip Sheppard (Luke Darcy, 46), Kenneth O'Connor (Ryan Kiernan, 80). Goal: P Costello (og, 76)
Clondalkin Community Centre, 23 April 2016