It 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

Seaford rattled in five goals in 20 first half minutes to coast to victory at the Rockies.

The visitors had the first chance of the afternoon when Niall Barr got free at a corner but his header bounced over the bar.

Seaford opened the scoring through striker Michael Akingbade who raced through to convert Rob O'Shea's through-ball, and the in-form bagsman turned provider, laying on three assists in quick succession as the Penguins ran riot. Fionn Nally got his first Seaford goal after good work from Akingbade, before Jack Keegan buried a scissors kick and moments later converted a penatly that he won himself.

Nally made it 5-0 on 28 minutes after a shimmy of he hips to sit down keeper Andrew O'Dwyer before walking the ball into the net, and Keegan ought to hae completed his hat-trick, missing a sitter when clean through , before curling just wide with his left just before half-time. 

The second half was largely uneventful. Akingbade almost bagged a trademark wondergoal, bamboozling a defender on the byline before smashing it from a tight angle, but O'Dwyer got in the way.

With fifteen to play,  Jeremie Mputu lashed home a volley to pull one back for Pats CY, but it was Seaford who completed the scoring when Keegan made a clever late run to beat the offisde trap and crossed for  O'Shea to tap in.

​
Seafprd:  Oisin Geoghegan, Zitian Xiang (Rory Carberry, 68) , Brian Murphy, Craig Conlon, Al Kennedy, Ben Kelly, (Timi SIlva, 58) Rob O'Shea,  Jack Keegan Fionn Nally (Darragh Connolly, 72) ,,  Conor Fennell (Eoin O'Farrell, , 68)  Michael Akingbade 

St Patricks CY: 1 Andrew O'Dwyer, 2 Sean Holland, 3 James Byrne, 4 Sean Carmody, 5 Niall Barr, 6 Basanda Nxumalo, 7 Owen Alaya, 8 Oisin Carey, 9 Jake Walsh Keane, 10 Tadgh Healy, 11 Sandip Chhantyal. Subs: 12 Kaue Carvalho de Souza;,13 Garry Hanifin, 14 Charlie Graham, 15 Jack Lee, 16 Guled Abdillahi, 17 Jeremie Mputu

Ten-man Seaford fell just short of claiming a famous win to open their season, conceding a stoppage-time equaliser in a thrilling clash in Baldonnell.

Against a highly talented St Francis side, the Penguins brought their springtime form into the new campaign, making a lively start and almost opening the scoring inside three minutes, when Michael Akingbade's pinpoint chipped cross found  Conor Fennell at the back post but the winger volleyed just wide.

Both keepers were forced into action midway though the half as , Oisin Geoghegan, made a smart low stop to keep out Nathan O'Neill before Ben Kelly tested Darragh Fitzgerald with a curler at the other end.

The hosts took control the half as it wore on , with Luke Maguire Neville firing inches past the post after twisting and turning in the area, but it was Seaford who hit the front on the stroke of half time as Sam Browne diverted Craig Conlon's whipped cross into the net.

St Francis levelled straight after the break as dangerman Owen Meisonnave danced along the by-line before squaring for O'Neill to convert, but the visitors restored their advantage on 51 when Akingbade was teed up by Fionn Nally and finished in style. 

It was dreamland for the Penguins when Kelly bundled home to make it 3-1 from another Conlon delivery., but the Francis fightback was inevitable. They pulled one back though Cian Foley after another Meuinneve assist , before Darragh Roche was dismissed. for two quick yellow cards, leaving Seaford clinging on.

It looked like their rearguard action had secured the points until the 92nd minute when Kyle Brady converted from close range amid offside appeals.to nick a share of the spoils.

Seafprd: 1 Oisin Geoghegan, 3 Darragh Roche, 6 Zitian Xiang, 4 Craig Conlon, 19 Sam Browne, 5 Al Kennedy, 16 Ben Kelly (17 Niall Holleran 90 + 3),8 Garrett Connolly (15 Brian Murphy, 78),13 Fionn Nally (11 Jamie McCaul, 86), 7 Conor Fennell (9 Ryan Scollard, 61), 10 Michael Akingbade (14 Jack Keegan, 78)

St Francis: 1 Darragh Fitzgerald; 2 Alex Merriman; 3 Nathan O'Neill; 4 Finn O'Sullivan; 5 Callum Behan; 6 Prince Nganga; 7 Owen Meisonnave; 8 Sean Donohoe; 9 Larry Johnson; 10 Luke Maguire Neville; 11 Brian Mcloughlin. Subs: 12 David Toolan; 13 Jake O'Neill; 14 Luke Cummins; 15 Cian Foley; 16 Tomasz Gwizdala; 17 Kyle Brady; 18 Abudus Samad Adelakun