Match Report: Clontarf 3-5 Seaford Rock United
LSL Saturday Major 1C
Seaford rode their luck ultimately prevailed by a 5-3 margin in an open and eventful match played in blazing sunshine at Stella Maris.
The intense fixture list for the visitors had taken a significant toll on the fitness of the Seaford squad, with a lengthy injury list forcing manager Alan Burns into a number of changes, handing out several first team debuts and reshuffling others positionally.
If the visiting side had a makeshift look on paper, it wasn't reflected once the match started, with Seaford opening the scoring inside three minutes courtesy of some sublime combination play. Collie Dolan ran onto Donal Howley's pass in the right wing position, squaring the ball with a brilliant backheel, which Harry Crowe dummied, allowing fullback Dave Devaney to burst onto the ball and pick out the top corner of the net.
It was 2-0 inside a quarter of an hour, via a clever corner kick routine. From Mark Cullen's low delivery to the near post, skipper Paddy Costello flicked the ball into the path of Rory O'Huiginn, who converted from close range.
Seaford continued to pour forward but it was at the expense of defensive stability, and Clontarf pulled one back on 30 minutes. Michael Winterson found Liam Keegan with a precise through-ball, and the winger squared for Oliver Callely to tap home.
And minutes later Seaford enjoyed a major let off when keeper Eoin English received only a yellow card for handling outside his box as Jay Hester tried to lift it over him. It was a very generous decision from a Seaford perspective, but some justice was done when the reds equalised from the second phase of the restart, with Stephen Patten hooking in a cross for WInterson to nod home.
If Seaford had enjoyed the better of the opening period, Clontarf came into the game after the break. Their captain David Vos almost put them ahead on 56 minutes, but couldn't force Patten's corner over the line before English and his defence managed to scramble it clear, and Hester later smashed an angled drive off the near post.
But it was the visitors who made the breakthrough, courtesy of a penalty kick awarded when Clontarf keeper Devin Connolly barged into O'Huiginn as he tried to claim a loose ball. Set piece expert Tommy Crichlow slotted home the spot kick, and minutes O'Huiginn made it 4-2, tapping in at the back post after Crowe had flicked on Devaney's cross.
The frantic rate of scoring continued when Hester picked out Callely, who rounded English before passing into the empty net, but Clontarf's cause wasn't helped by the dismissal of centre half Keith Ward with fifteen minute left.
Vos missed a golden opportunity to level the scores when he failed to connect properly with another Patten delivery, with the goal at his mercy, and Seaford substitute Frank Mulhall put the outcome beyond doubt when he played a one-two with Crowe before expertly firing into the corner of the net.
There was still time for another great chance for the visitors to extend their lead, but Crichlow was denied by a brilliant saving block from Vos after being put through on goal by Jimmy Hussey.
Overall it was a satisfying win for Seaford given the injury-ravaged squad, even if there was little at stake and the victory owed a certain amount of favourable refereeing. The firsts end their league campaign at home to Beggsboro in a fortnight's time.
Seaford: Eoin English; Dave Devaney, Robbie Murray, Darren Grealish, Paddy Costello; Tommy Crichlow, Collie Dolan (Frank Mulhall, 81), Donal Howley (Shane Lauritsch, 81), Rory O'Huiginn; Harry Crowe, Mark Cullen. Goals: Devaney (3), O'Huiginn (15, 73), Crichlow (69, pen), Mulhall (88)
Clontarf: Devin Connolly, Dave Flynn, Conor Treston, Keith Ward, David Vos, Michael Winterson, Stephen Patten, Jesper Frisch (Sam Kelly, 66), Oliver Callely, Jay Hester (Stephen Byrne, 78), Liam Keegan. Goals: Callely (30, 75), Winterson (36)
Stella Maris, 14 May 2016
The intense fixture list for the visitors had taken a significant toll on the fitness of the Seaford squad, with a lengthy injury list forcing manager Alan Burns into a number of changes, handing out several first team debuts and reshuffling others positionally.
If the visiting side had a makeshift look on paper, it wasn't reflected once the match started, with Seaford opening the scoring inside three minutes courtesy of some sublime combination play. Collie Dolan ran onto Donal Howley's pass in the right wing position, squaring the ball with a brilliant backheel, which Harry Crowe dummied, allowing fullback Dave Devaney to burst onto the ball and pick out the top corner of the net.
It was 2-0 inside a quarter of an hour, via a clever corner kick routine. From Mark Cullen's low delivery to the near post, skipper Paddy Costello flicked the ball into the path of Rory O'Huiginn, who converted from close range.
Seaford continued to pour forward but it was at the expense of defensive stability, and Clontarf pulled one back on 30 minutes. Michael Winterson found Liam Keegan with a precise through-ball, and the winger squared for Oliver Callely to tap home.
And minutes later Seaford enjoyed a major let off when keeper Eoin English received only a yellow card for handling outside his box as Jay Hester tried to lift it over him. It was a very generous decision from a Seaford perspective, but some justice was done when the reds equalised from the second phase of the restart, with Stephen Patten hooking in a cross for WInterson to nod home.
If Seaford had enjoyed the better of the opening period, Clontarf came into the game after the break. Their captain David Vos almost put them ahead on 56 minutes, but couldn't force Patten's corner over the line before English and his defence managed to scramble it clear, and Hester later smashed an angled drive off the near post.
But it was the visitors who made the breakthrough, courtesy of a penalty kick awarded when Clontarf keeper Devin Connolly barged into O'Huiginn as he tried to claim a loose ball. Set piece expert Tommy Crichlow slotted home the spot kick, and minutes O'Huiginn made it 4-2, tapping in at the back post after Crowe had flicked on Devaney's cross.
The frantic rate of scoring continued when Hester picked out Callely, who rounded English before passing into the empty net, but Clontarf's cause wasn't helped by the dismissal of centre half Keith Ward with fifteen minute left.
Vos missed a golden opportunity to level the scores when he failed to connect properly with another Patten delivery, with the goal at his mercy, and Seaford substitute Frank Mulhall put the outcome beyond doubt when he played a one-two with Crowe before expertly firing into the corner of the net.
There was still time for another great chance for the visitors to extend their lead, but Crichlow was denied by a brilliant saving block from Vos after being put through on goal by Jimmy Hussey.
Overall it was a satisfying win for Seaford given the injury-ravaged squad, even if there was little at stake and the victory owed a certain amount of favourable refereeing. The firsts end their league campaign at home to Beggsboro in a fortnight's time.
Seaford: Eoin English; Dave Devaney, Robbie Murray, Darren Grealish, Paddy Costello; Tommy Crichlow, Collie Dolan (Frank Mulhall, 81), Donal Howley (Shane Lauritsch, 81), Rory O'Huiginn; Harry Crowe, Mark Cullen. Goals: Devaney (3), O'Huiginn (15, 73), Crichlow (69, pen), Mulhall (88)
Clontarf: Devin Connolly, Dave Flynn, Conor Treston, Keith Ward, David Vos, Michael Winterson, Stephen Patten, Jesper Frisch (Sam Kelly, 66), Oliver Callely, Jay Hester (Stephen Byrne, 78), Liam Keegan. Goals: Callely (30, 75), Winterson (36)
Stella Maris, 14 May 2016