Match Report: Booth Road Celtic 1-3 Seaford Rock United
LSL Sat Major 1B
Seaford completed their season with a magnificent away win at title-chasing Booth Road Celtic in Clondalkin, giving them a shot an a most unlikely promotion in the bargain.
Having suffered a terrible start to the season, Seaford have gone from second last to second top courtesy of a brilliant run of 13 wins in 18 league matches under current management.
And this was most certainly a lucky thirteenth win, as the home side largely dominated but squandered chance after chance, with the men in white taking full advantage of a dogged defensive display by grabbing all three points with a late smash-and-grab raid.
Booth Road have been the outstanding side in LSL Major 1B all season, but their abundant success in various cup competitions had left them with a packed fixture schedule towards the end of the season. But they showed no signs of fatigue during their impressive first half performance, hitting the front on 9 minutes though Shane Merrigan, who was left in space to convert from close range after Oisin Geoghegan had parried away Philip Sheppard’s powerful strike, the referee allowing the goal despite what appeared to be plausible claims of offside.
The visitors struggled to get a foothold in the game as the hoops poured forward. Sheppard tested Geoghegan again from range, before a brilliant team move led to Ryan Rock pulling the ball across goal, but just out of Sheppard’s reach.
But Seaford grew into the game at the midpoint of the half. The impressive James O'Neill thumped a long range shot just over before laying in Harry Crowe with a brilliant through-ball, but Crowe’s finish flew just past the far post.
Seaford’s equaliser on 33 minutes owed more to luck than design. O’Neill nicked the ball off Stephen Bermingham beside the corner flag before whipping in a left-footed cross that flew over Gary Cleary and dropped into the top corner of the net.
Booth Road took control again, however, and it was a miracle that they didn’t re-take the lead late in the half. First, Alan Brennan produced a superb saving tackle to deny Merrigan what seemed a certain goal, and from the resulting corner David Hooper headed straight at Geoghegan from point-blank range, before the outstanding Merrigan sped to the by-line to set up Sheppard for a tap-in – but his strike partner somehow failed to convert from a matter of inches.
It was a similar story in the second half, as Merrigan shot wide after Cleary’s huge punt had put him in on goal, before Geoghegan twice denied Sheppard with his feet. At the other end, O’Neill went close to his second with a brilliant left-footed curler, and Chris Monk was agonising close to connecting with O’Neill’s cross at the back post.
Seaford got their reward for doggedly hanging on in the game on 78 minutes. Goal-shy midfielder Mike O'Neill had been set up by his namesake James to net a last-gasp equaliser in the same fixture a year previously, and history repeated itself, as James produced yet another fine delivery with the left for Mike to head powerfully downward and past Cleary into the net.
Booth were inches from an instant response, James Kelly’s long-range volley dipping onto the crossbar, before Sheppard fired the rebound wide.
And the home side were punished for their profligacy in the final two minutes. Darragh Connolly found Crowe with a diagonal ball, and Seaford’s top-scorer burst past his man, foregoing the chance to bring up a quarter-century for the season by squaring for sub Paidi O'Fatharta to tap home and make it 3-1.
The win moves Seaford into second place in the table, but they must still rely on favourable results elsewhere if they are to secure a top-three spot
Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan; Alan Brennan, Fionn Lawlor, Darren Grealish (Fionn Geoghegan, h/t); Paul Tansey, Chris Monk (Darragh Connolly, 68), Paul Lydon (Conor Geoghegan, 71), Mike O'Neill (Carl Doyle, 90 + 1); James O'Neill; Harry Crowe, Francis Mulhall (Paidi O'Fatharta, 79) . Goals: J O'Neill (33), M O'Neill (78), O'Fatharta (89)
Booth Road Celtic: Gary Cleary, Stephen Bermingham, Jordan Roe, David Hooper, Jason McKenna (Dean O'Rourke, 73), Aaron Clayton, Ryan Rock, James Kelly, Shane Merrigan, Philip Sheppard, Nathan Rock. Goal: Merrigan (9)
Clondalkin Leisure Centre, 15 May 2017
Having suffered a terrible start to the season, Seaford have gone from second last to second top courtesy of a brilliant run of 13 wins in 18 league matches under current management.
And this was most certainly a lucky thirteenth win, as the home side largely dominated but squandered chance after chance, with the men in white taking full advantage of a dogged defensive display by grabbing all three points with a late smash-and-grab raid.
Booth Road have been the outstanding side in LSL Major 1B all season, but their abundant success in various cup competitions had left them with a packed fixture schedule towards the end of the season. But they showed no signs of fatigue during their impressive first half performance, hitting the front on 9 minutes though Shane Merrigan, who was left in space to convert from close range after Oisin Geoghegan had parried away Philip Sheppard’s powerful strike, the referee allowing the goal despite what appeared to be plausible claims of offside.
The visitors struggled to get a foothold in the game as the hoops poured forward. Sheppard tested Geoghegan again from range, before a brilliant team move led to Ryan Rock pulling the ball across goal, but just out of Sheppard’s reach.
But Seaford grew into the game at the midpoint of the half. The impressive James O'Neill thumped a long range shot just over before laying in Harry Crowe with a brilliant through-ball, but Crowe’s finish flew just past the far post.
Seaford’s equaliser on 33 minutes owed more to luck than design. O’Neill nicked the ball off Stephen Bermingham beside the corner flag before whipping in a left-footed cross that flew over Gary Cleary and dropped into the top corner of the net.
Booth Road took control again, however, and it was a miracle that they didn’t re-take the lead late in the half. First, Alan Brennan produced a superb saving tackle to deny Merrigan what seemed a certain goal, and from the resulting corner David Hooper headed straight at Geoghegan from point-blank range, before the outstanding Merrigan sped to the by-line to set up Sheppard for a tap-in – but his strike partner somehow failed to convert from a matter of inches.
It was a similar story in the second half, as Merrigan shot wide after Cleary’s huge punt had put him in on goal, before Geoghegan twice denied Sheppard with his feet. At the other end, O’Neill went close to his second with a brilliant left-footed curler, and Chris Monk was agonising close to connecting with O’Neill’s cross at the back post.
Seaford got their reward for doggedly hanging on in the game on 78 minutes. Goal-shy midfielder Mike O'Neill had been set up by his namesake James to net a last-gasp equaliser in the same fixture a year previously, and history repeated itself, as James produced yet another fine delivery with the left for Mike to head powerfully downward and past Cleary into the net.
Booth were inches from an instant response, James Kelly’s long-range volley dipping onto the crossbar, before Sheppard fired the rebound wide.
And the home side were punished for their profligacy in the final two minutes. Darragh Connolly found Crowe with a diagonal ball, and Seaford’s top-scorer burst past his man, foregoing the chance to bring up a quarter-century for the season by squaring for sub Paidi O'Fatharta to tap home and make it 3-1.
The win moves Seaford into second place in the table, but they must still rely on favourable results elsewhere if they are to secure a top-three spot
Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan; Alan Brennan, Fionn Lawlor, Darren Grealish (Fionn Geoghegan, h/t); Paul Tansey, Chris Monk (Darragh Connolly, 68), Paul Lydon (Conor Geoghegan, 71), Mike O'Neill (Carl Doyle, 90 + 1); James O'Neill; Harry Crowe, Francis Mulhall (Paidi O'Fatharta, 79) . Goals: J O'Neill (33), M O'Neill (78), O'Fatharta (89)
Booth Road Celtic: Gary Cleary, Stephen Bermingham, Jordan Roe, David Hooper, Jason McKenna (Dean O'Rourke, 73), Aaron Clayton, Ryan Rock, James Kelly, Shane Merrigan, Philip Sheppard, Nathan Rock. Goal: Merrigan (9)
Clondalkin Leisure Centre, 15 May 2017