Match Report: Crumlin United 1-1 Seaford Rock United
Crumlin win 4-3 on penalties
FAI Junior Cup, Last 64
Back Row: Sam Browne, Eoin Mahon, Conor Geoghegan, Stephen Canavan, Dave Lewis, Ian Nolan, Mike O'Neill, Gavin Nugent, Chirs Monk, Cian McGuinness, Colin Barrett, Alan Burns. Front Row: Dan Kennedy, Darragh Roche, Al Kennedy, Jack Burke, Lewis Cawley, Brian Murphy, Mate Salacan
Seaford pushed their illustrious opponents every inch of their way, but fell heartbreakingly short in the last 64 of the FAI Junior Cup.
In their first ever appearance in the nationwide phase of the competition, the Penguins were handed a nightmare draw away to the perennial champions of the LSL's Saturday top flight, and although the hosts controlled possession throughout and created almost all the goalmouth opportunities, a brave and committed Seaford display led them agonisingly close to a famous upset.
An impressive start from Alan Burns's men lasted less than four minutes, as Crumlin opened the scoring with a slick counter-attack, Jordan O'Neill whipping in a cross for Tommy McCaffrey to volley home, cleverly directing the ball back across goal to give Gavin Nugent no chance on his first-team debut.
Chris Monk went close to an equaliser but couldn't keep his near-post header on target, but most of the action was at the other end, as O'Neill lobbed Nugent only for Al Kennedy to make a heroic goal-line clearance, before Nugent made two spectacular stops, first to deny the dangerman O'Neill and then a breathtaking reaction stop to keep out Jamie Geoghegan's snapshot.
And Seaford's doggedness was rewarded with a leveller shortly before half-time, as Dave Lewis met Kennedy's superb corner with a flicked header into the corner of the net.
Newly emboldened, the visitors started brightly after the break but as the half wore on, Crumlin reasserted their dominance and began laying siege to the navy blues' goal. Nathan Benson had a golden opportunity but blazed the ball over the bar from eight yards following Adam Bennett's delivery, and then Bennett set up Paddy Steacy but the striker glanced his header wide.
Crumlin's positional rotations and combinations was mesmerising at times but fullbacks Darragh Roche and Ian Nolan were to the forefront of the Penguins' rearguard action, while at the other end Stephen Canavan was superb in leading the line in spite of a physical battering.
Deep into extra time, Seaford had a tantalising glimpse of a inner, when on a rare break forward Conor Geoghegan released Collie Barrett, but Barrett was unable to add to his catalogue of famous Seaford goals and that proved to be the final significant action of the 110 minutes.
Evan Meehan was Crumlin's hero in the penalty shoot-out, repelling two Seaford efforts, while his teammates' efforts were all unstoppable, earning them a 4-3 win.
Seaford: Gavin Nugent, Darragh Roche, Ian Nolan, Cian McGuinness, Al Kennedy, Dan Kennedy, Dave Lewis (Jack Burke, 86), Mike O'Neill (Conor Geoghegan, 68), Chris Monk , Lewis Cawley,, Stephen Canavan (Collie Barrett, 101)
Crumlin United: Evan Meehan, Stevie Nicholl, Pedro Malandon, Josh O'Toole, Jamie Geoghegan, Tony Griffiths,, Tommy Caffrey, Nathan Benson, Paddy Steacy, Adam Bennett (David Dempsey, 118), Jordan O'Neill
Pearse Park, 27 November 2021
In their first ever appearance in the nationwide phase of the competition, the Penguins were handed a nightmare draw away to the perennial champions of the LSL's Saturday top flight, and although the hosts controlled possession throughout and created almost all the goalmouth opportunities, a brave and committed Seaford display led them agonisingly close to a famous upset.
An impressive start from Alan Burns's men lasted less than four minutes, as Crumlin opened the scoring with a slick counter-attack, Jordan O'Neill whipping in a cross for Tommy McCaffrey to volley home, cleverly directing the ball back across goal to give Gavin Nugent no chance on his first-team debut.
Chris Monk went close to an equaliser but couldn't keep his near-post header on target, but most of the action was at the other end, as O'Neill lobbed Nugent only for Al Kennedy to make a heroic goal-line clearance, before Nugent made two spectacular stops, first to deny the dangerman O'Neill and then a breathtaking reaction stop to keep out Jamie Geoghegan's snapshot.
And Seaford's doggedness was rewarded with a leveller shortly before half-time, as Dave Lewis met Kennedy's superb corner with a flicked header into the corner of the net.
Newly emboldened, the visitors started brightly after the break but as the half wore on, Crumlin reasserted their dominance and began laying siege to the navy blues' goal. Nathan Benson had a golden opportunity but blazed the ball over the bar from eight yards following Adam Bennett's delivery, and then Bennett set up Paddy Steacy but the striker glanced his header wide.
Crumlin's positional rotations and combinations was mesmerising at times but fullbacks Darragh Roche and Ian Nolan were to the forefront of the Penguins' rearguard action, while at the other end Stephen Canavan was superb in leading the line in spite of a physical battering.
Deep into extra time, Seaford had a tantalising glimpse of a inner, when on a rare break forward Conor Geoghegan released Collie Barrett, but Barrett was unable to add to his catalogue of famous Seaford goals and that proved to be the final significant action of the 110 minutes.
Evan Meehan was Crumlin's hero in the penalty shoot-out, repelling two Seaford efforts, while his teammates' efforts were all unstoppable, earning them a 4-3 win.
Seaford: Gavin Nugent, Darragh Roche, Ian Nolan, Cian McGuinness, Al Kennedy, Dan Kennedy, Dave Lewis (Jack Burke, 86), Mike O'Neill (Conor Geoghegan, 68), Chris Monk , Lewis Cawley,, Stephen Canavan (Collie Barrett, 101)
Crumlin United: Evan Meehan, Stevie Nicholl, Pedro Malandon, Josh O'Toole, Jamie Geoghegan, Tony Griffiths,, Tommy Caffrey, Nathan Benson, Paddy Steacy, Adam Bennett (David Dempsey, 118), Jordan O'Neill
Pearse Park, 27 November 2021