Match Report: CIE Ranch 0-0 Seaford Rock United
LSL Sat Major 1B
Seaford's season got off to a frustrating start as they played out a stalemate against newly promoted CIE Ranch in Inchicore.
New manager John Downes gave a debut to striker Conor Tobin, a a first start in two years to Ryan Scollard on the right wing, and the visitors made by far the brighter start in dull conditions.
Tobin's lively runs up front caused Ranch difficulties from the outset, and he was unlucky to be twice denied by offside decisions in the early exchanges, whilst Andy Roe was a tenacious presence in a new role at the base of the midfield, and Neil Harrington and Darragh Connolly combined well down the left.
That pairing combined brilliantly on nine minutes to put Connolly behind the Ranch defensive line. As he nicked the ball past the home keeper Dean Byrne, he appeared clearly to have his ankles clipped, and Seaford reacted with astonishment as the referee waved play on.
Seaford dominated possession and territory but struggled to break down a physically imposing Ranch backline, and in the second half the visitors lost momentum as their patient passing game broke down and they were forced to revert to more direct play. That style of game favoured the beefy home team, and they enjoyed a strong phase midway thought the second half, albeit without ever mustering a serious effort on target due to the sterling efforts of Seaford's defensive trio, Fionn Geoghegan, Fionn Lawlor and David Higgins.
The closest they came was when Johnathan Fitzgerald glanced a header just wide from Eddie Smith's diagonal free kick, before substitute Ross Judge saw his effort deflect tamely into Dylan O'Reilly's hands.
The final opportunity fell to Seaford in the 88th minute, as subs Tyrone McNelis and Karl Stakelum combined on a breakaway, but the latter couldn't hit the target with his angled shot.
Seaford: Dylan O'Reilly, David Higgins, Fionn Lawlor, Fionn Geoghegan, Andy Roe, Mike O'Neill, (Paul Tansey, 67), Darragh Connolly, Neil Harrington , Ryan Scollard (Gavin Stakelum, 75), Conor Tobin (Tyrone McNelis, 57), Paul Lydon,
CIE Ranch: Dean Byrne, Jonathan FitzGerald, Graham Darcy (Dean Dunphy, 60), Eddie Smith, Keith Walsh, Gavin Doyle (Ross Judge, 57), Jordan Griffiths, Paul Uzell, Bungo Antonio (Jason Walsh, 57), Paul Mooney, Lee O'Sullivan
CIE Works, 24 August 2017
New manager John Downes gave a debut to striker Conor Tobin, a a first start in two years to Ryan Scollard on the right wing, and the visitors made by far the brighter start in dull conditions.
Tobin's lively runs up front caused Ranch difficulties from the outset, and he was unlucky to be twice denied by offside decisions in the early exchanges, whilst Andy Roe was a tenacious presence in a new role at the base of the midfield, and Neil Harrington and Darragh Connolly combined well down the left.
That pairing combined brilliantly on nine minutes to put Connolly behind the Ranch defensive line. As he nicked the ball past the home keeper Dean Byrne, he appeared clearly to have his ankles clipped, and Seaford reacted with astonishment as the referee waved play on.
Seaford dominated possession and territory but struggled to break down a physically imposing Ranch backline, and in the second half the visitors lost momentum as their patient passing game broke down and they were forced to revert to more direct play. That style of game favoured the beefy home team, and they enjoyed a strong phase midway thought the second half, albeit without ever mustering a serious effort on target due to the sterling efforts of Seaford's defensive trio, Fionn Geoghegan, Fionn Lawlor and David Higgins.
The closest they came was when Johnathan Fitzgerald glanced a header just wide from Eddie Smith's diagonal free kick, before substitute Ross Judge saw his effort deflect tamely into Dylan O'Reilly's hands.
The final opportunity fell to Seaford in the 88th minute, as subs Tyrone McNelis and Karl Stakelum combined on a breakaway, but the latter couldn't hit the target with his angled shot.
Seaford: Dylan O'Reilly, David Higgins, Fionn Lawlor, Fionn Geoghegan, Andy Roe, Mike O'Neill, (Paul Tansey, 67), Darragh Connolly, Neil Harrington , Ryan Scollard (Gavin Stakelum, 75), Conor Tobin (Tyrone McNelis, 57), Paul Lydon,
CIE Ranch: Dean Byrne, Jonathan FitzGerald, Graham Darcy (Dean Dunphy, 60), Eddie Smith, Keith Walsh, Gavin Doyle (Ross Judge, 57), Jordan Griffiths, Paul Uzell, Bungo Antonio (Jason Walsh, 57), Paul Mooney, Lee O'Sullivan
CIE Works, 24 August 2017