LSL Saturday Major 1CThe Penguins struggles continued as they suffered defeat for the eighth match in a row.
There wasn't much to choose between the sides during a first half that was low on chances,, as Seaford's trio of skilful midfielders caused the hosts some problems, but Seaford were denied by a couple of tight offside calls. At the other end, Patrick Scully forced a brilliant save from Fionn McLoughlin and from the resulting corner, Oliver Bond took the lead, as Cillian Hudson headed home a whipped corner from Harrison McGrane Lynch. But Seaford made a flying start to the second half, and were almost in front within five minutes. First, Jack Keegan broke down the right and squared for Timi Silva, who thumped home from 25 yards to level the scored. Moments later debutant Mario Rodriguez thought had had netted with an equally spectacular effort, but Christopher Shannon produced a sensational save to claw the ball out of the top corner. And the Penguins suffered a hammer blow when Carlos Monserrat was penalised for a foul on Scully, with McGrane Lynch firing home the resulting penalty.. Seaford rallied. Reigning player-of-the-year Zitian Xiang found Keegan with a searching cross-field ball, who in turn picked out , but the big striker's shot took a deflection and bobbled into Shannon's hands. It was 3-1 with sixteen to play when Seaford's diminutive team was again exposed at a set-piece, when Gerard Noone headed home another McGrane Lynch corner. There was a barrage of late pressure from the Penguins orchestrated by Keegan, who whipped cross was almost headed into his own net by Oliver Bond skipper Dillon Quinn but ultimately it was another weekend of disappoint for Baz Kirwan's boys. Seaford FC: Fionn McLoughlin, Eoin O'Farrell, Ran Tao, Zitian Xiang, Brian Murphy, Jack Keegan, Timi Silva, Mario Rodriguez (Chenghao Liu, 82), Desmond Eiffe (Louis O'Dea, 64), Carlos Monserrat (Oscar Farrell, 73), Danny Walsh Oliver Bond Celtic: 1 Shannon Christopher, 2 Harrison McGrane Lynch, 3 Dillon Quinn, 6 Cillian Hudson, 8 Sam Lyons, 9 Patrick Scully,10 Gerard Noone, 11 Pedro Campos, 14 William Jones, 15 Jose Jimenez, 16 Sean Byrne Quinn Brickfield Park, 29 November 2025
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Photos courtesy of Rodney Smythe
Noel Ryan CupA late winner from substitute Colin Hayes saw Wayside Celtic into the next round of the Noel Ryan Cup in a closely fought encounter at Jackson Park.
Despite the hosts starting as the bookies' favourites, there was noting between the sides for large parts, in a game characterised by both teams' industry and some decent play, but few clear-cut chances. Seaford's classy holding midfielder Tomo Murphy went closest for the Penguins, and it took him just two minutes to hit the crossbar with a long-range effort. At the other end, Wayside's powerful striker Darragh O'Connor led a quick counter-attack, laying in Raef Aherne whose low shot was expertly saved by Oisin Geoghegan. Centre-back Donal Moriarty ought to have broken the deadlock before half-time but was unable to convert with a close-range header. Murphy rattled the woodwork again straight after with an extraordinary lob from the halfway line which had Lukas Kelly-Voigt backpedaling frantically, but as the second half wore, it was Celtic who looked more likely to score. Their big midfielder Ultan Woods was to the fore, testing Geoghegan with an overhead kick before smashing 25-yarder against the bar. And it was from his shot that they ended the stalemate, as Hayes redirected it towards net. Seaford rallied in search of a late equaliser. Substitute Timi SIlva attempted a sensational bicycle kick which Kelly-Voigt was able to deal with, before the Wayside stopper made a brilliant full-length save to keep out Murphy's strike, and the same man went close with a curling strike that just missed the top corner deep into injury time, but the hosts held out to secure their place in the next round. Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan, Zitian Xiang (Craig Conlon, 86), Darragh Roche Sam Browne, Al Kennedy, Thomas Murphy, Jack Keegan Fionn Nally (Garrett Connolly, 79), Michael Akingbade, (Timi SIlva, 66), , Jamie McCaul (Conor Fennell, 66), Ryan Scollard Wayside Celtic: 1 Lukas Kelly-Voigt, 2 Matt Farrell, 3 Aaron Farrell, 5 Donal Moriarty, 6 Gavin Doyle, 7 Raef Aherne, 8 Ultan Woods,9 Darragh O'Connor, 10 Cian-Mitchell Doyle, 11 Paulius Rutkauskas, 20 Christopher Roche. Subs: 12 Luke Condon, 13 Brandon Byrne, 14 Michael Roberts, 15 Sam Brown, 16 Colin Hayes, 18 Darragh Scanlon LSL Saturday Major 1Seaford made it five wins on the bounce - every one of them away from home - with a clinical display in County Kildare.
Leixlip made a bright start and tested Oisin Geoghegan three times in the first seven minutes. First, dangerman Alex Akinrintoyo dribbled purposefully at the Seaford defender and land in Zac O'Sullivan, who was denied by a smart Geoghegan parry, before Akinrintoyo himself twice tested the big stopper, who was at his impervious best The game had a frantic tempo, and at the other end Ian Daly found Ryan Scollard with a brilliant pass, but Jamie Muddiman got down to make the save, before Jamie McCaul hooked a cross to the back post, where Fionn Nally was unable to force it home from a tight angle. Alex Brady had a great opening for the hosts but miscued his finish and the breathless first half ended scoreless. The Penguins established more control of the game after the break, and Nally eventually made the breakthrough, finishing from close range age Scollard saw his effort hit the inside of the post. Scollard might have had one of his own shortly after but failed to connect with McCaul’s sensational whipped cross after a great Sam Browne ball put him in down the wing. The visitors’ rearguad, expertly led by Al Kennedy gave Geoghegan excellent protection , and the closest Leixlip came was when 6’s header clipped the top of the crossbar. As the clock ticked over to 90 minutes, two of the Seaford subs combined for a great opportunity as Ran Tao found Michael Akingbade, whose finish was inches past the post But there was still time for the icing on the cake, as McCaul found Ben Kelly at the edge of the box, who lashed in with his left to seal the win Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan, Zitian Xiang, Darragh Roche Sam Browne, Al Kennedy, Ben Kelly, Thomas Murphy, Fionn Nally (Michael Akingbade, 77), Jack Keegan, (Ran Tao, 82) Ian Daly, (Jamie McCaul 28), Ryan Scollard Leixlip United: 1 Jamie Muddiman, 2 Thomas McCormack, 3 Sean Curran, 4 Ethan Krstinic, 5 Dylan Horan, 6 Alex Lynch, 7 Alex Brady, 8 Edward Fagan, 9 Alex Akinrintoyo, 10 Joey O'Sullivan, 11 Zac O'Sullivan. Subs: 12 Dillion George, 13 Harry Leigh, 14 Graham Hughes, 15 Eoin Hackett, 18 Lewis Kelly, 19 Luke O'Connor, 20 Noah Pardy Delaney. Leinster Junior CupSeaford made it three straight wins on the road as they eliminated divisional rivals Leixlip United to progress in the Leinster Junior Cup. The two teams have been neck and neck in Major 1 for three straight seasons and that was reflected in a fairly even first half. Leixlip’s best efforts were from range , as Alex Brady saw his powerful 25 yard effort tipped over by debutant keeper Fionn McLoughlin, and Joey O’Sullivan later rattled the woodwork with a curling strike from a similar distance. In between, Jack Keegan had hit the post for Seaford, after he eluded onrushing keeper Conor Little but was unable to keep the finish on target, and skipper Al Kennedy was inches wide with a piledriver. The best chance of the half fell to Michael Akingbade, who was put in by Ben Kelly but Little flew off his line to spread himself and smother the opportunity. After the break , the game became disjointed with few chances at either end but Seaford made the breakthrough on 73 and for the second week in a row it was Sam Browne who bagged the winner , this time getting on the end of a sumptuous delivery from Brian Murphy. It could have been two very soon after, as Ryan Scollard set up sub Fionn Nally but again Little did brilliantly to deny him. In contrast, McLoughlin had a relatively quiet afternoon as the Penguins saw out the win with a resolute display from the back four of Murohy, Browne, Craig Conlon and Darragh Roche. A trip to Raheny United awaits in round 2. Seaford: Fionn McLoughlin, Darragh Roche Brian Murphy, Sam Browne, Craig Conlon, Al Kennedy, Ben Kelly, Michael Akingbade (Fionn Nally, 62) Jack Keegan, (Zitian Xiang, 77) Garrett Connolly (Ian Daly, 62), Ryan Scollard Seaford progressed to the second round of the Noel Ryan Cup with a win that was more comfortable than the final scoreline would suggest.
Kevin's keeper Jamie O'Brien made several impressive saves, none better than on 15 minutes when he somehow denied Timi SIlva from point-blank range after the Spanish midfielder met Garrett Connolly's headed flick-on. Seaford continued to control the match and almost broke the deadlock with a brilliant flowing move on 24, but Aaron Dequina managed to block Michael Akingbade's back-post header.. But they made the breakthrough from the resulting corner, which was collected at the back post by Ian Daly, =whose and his clipped cross was nodded home by Sam Browne. The Penugins could have added to their lead when Jamie McCaul fed Connolly with a great pass, but O'Brien rushed off his line to block the shot. It wasn't until the 71st minute that the hosts registered an effort on goal, and Oisin Geoghegan was comfortably able to deal with Austin Hannon's header. Seaford continued to push for a second , with Rob O'Shea testing O'Brien again with a powerful drive, but in the end Browne's goal was enough to secure safe passage into round two. Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan, Rob O'Shea Brian Murphy, (Zitian Xiang, 88) Sam Browne, Craig Conlon, Al Kennedy, Timi SIlva (Ben Kelly, 81) Michael Akingbade (Jack Keegan, 67) Jamie McCaul (Niall Holleran, 88) Ian Daly, (Darragh Roche, 67) Garrett Connolly St Kevin's: 1 Jamie O'Brien, 2 Eoin Duffy, 3 Luke Bolton, 4 Aaron Dequina, 5 Marc Notaro, 6 Kevin McFadden, 7 Adam Mitchell Lees, 8 Martin Matsekh, 9 Nathan Maher, 10 Evan McGee, 11 Ali Abdul Salam Ali Al Madani . Subs: Keith Rooney, Benjamin Norths, Austin Hannon, Jordan Farry LSL Saturday Major 1It took an amazing goal and an amazing save, but Seaford clung on to snatch three points they scarcely deserved against the highly talented young UCD team.
Seaford made a bright start the early stages but once UCD got a foothold in the game, they took control, with Oisin Geoghegan making a point-blank save to deny Calum Howard, and Jack O'Flaherty almost got clean through after out-maneuvering Craig Conlon, but the Seaford man was able to get back around to put pressure on and the big UCD striker shot just off target. But it was Timi SIlva who made the breakthrough for Seaford, volleying in from close-range after Michael Akingbade squared the ball to him. UCD levelled on the stroke of half-time, as the Penguins missed several chances to clear their lines and they were punished by Patrick Collins, who shot home low from the edge of the box. Seaford didn't waste any time restoring their lead early into the second half, and it was a stunning strike from Silva, crashing home a 20-yard volley that gave Charlie McGrath no chance. The visitors had been second best before the half but were much improved after the break and looked more likely to add to the scoring, with Conor Fennell seeing an effort deflected just wide, before Ben Kelly fired just wide from range. The Students gained momentum in the final stages, and subjected the Penguins defence to an almighty onslaught. Seaford's rearguard held firm for the most part, as Conlon and skipper Al Kennedy repelled attack after attack. But the crucial intervention was from Geoghegan, who flung himself across his goal to pluck the ball out of the top corner, where Coleman King's deflected shot seemed certain to drop. It was as spectacular a save as one would see at any level of the game and worthy of securing another win to send Seaford top of the table. Seaford: Oisin Geoghegan, Darragh Roche, Zitian Xiang (Brian Murphy, 67) Craig Conlon, Al Kennedy, Ben Kelly, Rob O'Shea, Timi SIlva (Sam Browne, 90+1) Jack Keegan Conor Fennell (Fionn Nally, 73) Michael Akingbade (Ian Daly, 66) UCD: 1 Charlie McGrath, 2 Alex O'Shea, 3 Coleman King, 4 Eoin Cunningham, 5 Calum Howard, 6 Cian Bolger, 7 Eoghan Murphy, 8 Finn McDonnell, 9 Patrick Collins, 10 Jack O'Flaherty, 11 Aidan Kane (13 Shaun Russell) Photos courtesy of Rodney Smythe
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