Match Report: Hartstown Huntstown 2-4 Seaford Rock United
LSL Sat Major 1B
ASeaford secured an important three points to lift themselves away from the foot of LSL Major 1B, with a brace from Harry Crowe and two penalty saves from keeper Oisin Geoghegan.
After cup defeats in each of his first two matches in charge, it represented a great start in the league for new first team manager Stephen Faherty. THe opening period was uneventful, with no chances at either end before Seaford's star striker Harry Crowe opened the scoring on 26 minutes. THe goal was created by the tenacity of left back Paul Tansey, who hassled a mistake out of Hartstown's Simon Eglington, enabling Crowe to control the ball expertly before firing past Declan Boyd.
It was 2-0 before long, as Darragh Connolly noteched his first of the season from the edge of the box, picking out the corner of the net with Boyd stranded.
The home side rarely threatened, their best chance falling to Mark Walsh late in the half, but having found himself through on goal he blazed his shot high over the bar under pressure from Alan Brennan.
HH were reinvigoorated after the half time break, and had a golden opportunity to pull one back almost immediately, as Tansey was penalised for a foul on Kevin Dunne. But Jarvis Doolin's spot kick was comfortably saved by Oisin Geoghegan.
But the home side didn't have to wait long to make it 2-1, with David Walsh volleying home from close range as Seaford failed to clear a ball bouncing around their goalmouth.
The visitors' response was instant however, with Crowe making it 11 goals from 10 games this season by smashing Connolly's corner into the net with a splendid first-time volley. He seemed certain to crown a virtuoso performance with a hat-trick moments later, but seemed to be impeded by a defender at the crucial moment, the referee ignoring his protests.
Seaford's defensive frailties re-emerged on 66 minutes, as nobody reacted quickly enough to prevent Doolin from tapping in after Geoghegan had produced a superb stop to deny Sean O'Reilly.
Again, however, Seaford restored their two goal advantage immediately, and this time in even more spectacular style, as James O'Neill uncorked an astonishing 25 yard volley that rocketed into the net for 4-2.
Although Seaford sub Paddy Farrelly was inches from adding a fifth, it was Hartstown who finished the match stronger, with Walsh heading against the bar before they were awarded another penalty in stoppage time after a bizarre handball by Alan Brennan. This time Walsh stepped up and smashed it powerfully towards the top corner, only for Geoghegan to somehow claw the ball away. Amazingly, that made it three penalty saves in the space of a week for the giant keeper.
O'Reilly hit the post in the melée that followed, and Walsh had another fine chance to set up a grandstand finish, but Seaford clung on for all three points.
Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan; Darragh Roche, Paul Tansey, Theo Cullinane, Alan Brennan, Mark O'Brien, Piers Shelton, Darragh Connolly, Paul Lydon (John O'Brien, 61) (Paddy Farrelly, 76), James O'Neill (Fionn Geoghegan, 76), Harry Crowe. Goals: Crowe (26, 56), Connolly (31) O'Neill (68)
Hartstown Huntstown: Declan Boyd, Simon Eglington, Darren Mrray, Vincent McDermott, Liam Moran, Kevin Dunne, David Walsh, Mark Walsh, Jarvis Doolin, Jason Gahan. Goals: D Walsh (55) Doolin (67)
After cup defeats in each of his first two matches in charge, it represented a great start in the league for new first team manager Stephen Faherty. THe opening period was uneventful, with no chances at either end before Seaford's star striker Harry Crowe opened the scoring on 26 minutes. THe goal was created by the tenacity of left back Paul Tansey, who hassled a mistake out of Hartstown's Simon Eglington, enabling Crowe to control the ball expertly before firing past Declan Boyd.
It was 2-0 before long, as Darragh Connolly noteched his first of the season from the edge of the box, picking out the corner of the net with Boyd stranded.
The home side rarely threatened, their best chance falling to Mark Walsh late in the half, but having found himself through on goal he blazed his shot high over the bar under pressure from Alan Brennan.
HH were reinvigoorated after the half time break, and had a golden opportunity to pull one back almost immediately, as Tansey was penalised for a foul on Kevin Dunne. But Jarvis Doolin's spot kick was comfortably saved by Oisin Geoghegan.
But the home side didn't have to wait long to make it 2-1, with David Walsh volleying home from close range as Seaford failed to clear a ball bouncing around their goalmouth.
The visitors' response was instant however, with Crowe making it 11 goals from 10 games this season by smashing Connolly's corner into the net with a splendid first-time volley. He seemed certain to crown a virtuoso performance with a hat-trick moments later, but seemed to be impeded by a defender at the crucial moment, the referee ignoring his protests.
Seaford's defensive frailties re-emerged on 66 minutes, as nobody reacted quickly enough to prevent Doolin from tapping in after Geoghegan had produced a superb stop to deny Sean O'Reilly.
Again, however, Seaford restored their two goal advantage immediately, and this time in even more spectacular style, as James O'Neill uncorked an astonishing 25 yard volley that rocketed into the net for 4-2.
Although Seaford sub Paddy Farrelly was inches from adding a fifth, it was Hartstown who finished the match stronger, with Walsh heading against the bar before they were awarded another penalty in stoppage time after a bizarre handball by Alan Brennan. This time Walsh stepped up and smashed it powerfully towards the top corner, only for Geoghegan to somehow claw the ball away. Amazingly, that made it three penalty saves in the space of a week for the giant keeper.
O'Reilly hit the post in the melée that followed, and Walsh had another fine chance to set up a grandstand finish, but Seaford clung on for all three points.
Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan; Darragh Roche, Paul Tansey, Theo Cullinane, Alan Brennan, Mark O'Brien, Piers Shelton, Darragh Connolly, Paul Lydon (John O'Brien, 61) (Paddy Farrelly, 76), James O'Neill (Fionn Geoghegan, 76), Harry Crowe. Goals: Crowe (26, 56), Connolly (31) O'Neill (68)
Hartstown Huntstown: Declan Boyd, Simon Eglington, Darren Mrray, Vincent McDermott, Liam Moran, Kevin Dunne, David Walsh, Mark Walsh, Jarvis Doolin, Jason Gahan. Goals: D Walsh (55) Doolin (67)