Match Report: East Wall Rovers 2-5 Seaford Rock United
Wally Wynne Cup, First Round
Harry Crowe marked his comeback with a fine hat-trick as Seaford eased into the second round of the Wynne Cup with a comprehensive win over East Wall Rovers.
Without a single centre half available to him, Eoin Dunne’s starting back four had a makeshift look, and although Ryan McEnroe and Matty Sheehan would go on to have excellent matches at the heart of the visitors’ defence, there were some early jitters, as striker Daryl Conroy twice got in behind, only to be denied first by Robbie Moran’s stop, and later by a saving tackle from Darragh Roche.
The opening goal was a stunner, as Crowe chased a long ball into the channnel before smashing a first-time volley that dipped into the opposite top corner.
His second bore a striking resemblance, as he got on the end of Shane Gilroy’s lofted through-ball and, this time with his left, hooked another strike across James Collier and into the far corner.
It was 0-3 on 32 minutes, as winger Gilroy stole in at the back post to tap in Crowe’s cross, as Seaford took complete control.
But East Wall responded with a burst of furious pressure late in the half that produced two goals of their own. Jordan O’Reilly set up Conroy to pull one back, before another Moran save denied him a quickfire brace, only for Pierce O’Neill to force the ball over the line following a frenetic goalmouth scramble.
Having weathered the storm, Seaford regained their footing in the match during the second half, but Conroy continued to threaten, Moran however had an answer to everything, the experienced stopper turning in an inspired performance.
The introduction of winger Darragh Connolly off the subs' bench gave the men in maroon the impetus to kill the game off, as he set up two goals in the space of as many minutes. First he was laid in by McEnroe’s chipped pass, squaring for Crowe to compete his hat-trick, via ricochets off a defender and the goalpost, before Connolly set off on a brilliant run from halfway line to by-line, then centering for Gilroy to tap-in his second.
Only the woodwork prevented McEnroe making it six with a volley from the edge of the box, and Seaford withstood some late East Wall pressure to see out the game and secure their progress to Round 2.
Seaford: Robbie Moran, Darragh Roche (Paul Tansey, 58), Robbie Murray, Matty Sheehan, Ryan McEnroe, Chris Monk, Rory O’Huiginn (Stephen Kelly, 72), Owen Brayden, Shane Gilroy (Carl Doyle, 86), Conan Murphy (Darragh Connolly, 58) Harry Crowe. Goals: Crowe (8, 22, 73) Gilroy (32,74)
East Wall Rovers: James Collier, Darren Ward, Peter Dunne (Scott Doyle, h/t), Josh O’Reilly, Keith Bryan, Pierse O'Neill (Gareth Rock, 69), Ryan Millington (Conor Sherry, 52), Ryan Savage, Jordan O'Reilly, Daryl Conroy (Adam Brophy, 82), Kian Doran (Stewart Malone, 82). Goals: Conroy (37), O'Neill (40)
Dublin Port Stadium, 2 February 2019
Without a single centre half available to him, Eoin Dunne’s starting back four had a makeshift look, and although Ryan McEnroe and Matty Sheehan would go on to have excellent matches at the heart of the visitors’ defence, there were some early jitters, as striker Daryl Conroy twice got in behind, only to be denied first by Robbie Moran’s stop, and later by a saving tackle from Darragh Roche.
The opening goal was a stunner, as Crowe chased a long ball into the channnel before smashing a first-time volley that dipped into the opposite top corner.
His second bore a striking resemblance, as he got on the end of Shane Gilroy’s lofted through-ball and, this time with his left, hooked another strike across James Collier and into the far corner.
It was 0-3 on 32 minutes, as winger Gilroy stole in at the back post to tap in Crowe’s cross, as Seaford took complete control.
But East Wall responded with a burst of furious pressure late in the half that produced two goals of their own. Jordan O’Reilly set up Conroy to pull one back, before another Moran save denied him a quickfire brace, only for Pierce O’Neill to force the ball over the line following a frenetic goalmouth scramble.
Having weathered the storm, Seaford regained their footing in the match during the second half, but Conroy continued to threaten, Moran however had an answer to everything, the experienced stopper turning in an inspired performance.
The introduction of winger Darragh Connolly off the subs' bench gave the men in maroon the impetus to kill the game off, as he set up two goals in the space of as many minutes. First he was laid in by McEnroe’s chipped pass, squaring for Crowe to compete his hat-trick, via ricochets off a defender and the goalpost, before Connolly set off on a brilliant run from halfway line to by-line, then centering for Gilroy to tap-in his second.
Only the woodwork prevented McEnroe making it six with a volley from the edge of the box, and Seaford withstood some late East Wall pressure to see out the game and secure their progress to Round 2.
Seaford: Robbie Moran, Darragh Roche (Paul Tansey, 58), Robbie Murray, Matty Sheehan, Ryan McEnroe, Chris Monk, Rory O’Huiginn (Stephen Kelly, 72), Owen Brayden, Shane Gilroy (Carl Doyle, 86), Conan Murphy (Darragh Connolly, 58) Harry Crowe. Goals: Crowe (8, 22, 73) Gilroy (32,74)
East Wall Rovers: James Collier, Darren Ward, Peter Dunne (Scott Doyle, h/t), Josh O’Reilly, Keith Bryan, Pierse O'Neill (Gareth Rock, 69), Ryan Millington (Conor Sherry, 52), Ryan Savage, Jordan O'Reilly, Daryl Conroy (Adam Brophy, 82), Kian Doran (Stewart Malone, 82). Goals: Conroy (37), O'Neill (40)
Dublin Port Stadium, 2 February 2019