Match Report: Terenure Rangers 5-3 Seaford

Seaford delivered a much improved performance, but suffered the same outcome, losing their second match of the season in Major 1D, as they failed to take advantage of a man advantage in the final stages.

It was a lively opening against a wily and experienced Terenure side, who ought to have taken the lead inside a minute when Shane Clarke beat the offside trap to collect Steven Quinn's through-ball, but fired wide when clean through, before moments later at the other end, Richie Mulholland crossed for Shane Halpin whose downward header was just wide.

While the match was evenly contested overall, it was the hosts who had the best opportunity to break the deadlock, with Fionn McLoughlin rushing off his line to deny Clarke with a fine save after Alan McGeady had slipped on the sodden turf.

And it was Clarke who gave Rangers the lead on the half-hour mark, punishing a defensive howler to score the easiest of goals.

The Penguins levelled immediately. Debutant Sean Cox burst down the right win, leaving Kevin O'Sullivan in his wake before crossing for Shane Downes at the back post. His effort crashed off the underside of the bar but Halpin was on hand to convert.

It got even better for the visitors two minutes later, Sheldan Matans created the opportunity with a superb pass from left back and Cox once again turning on the afterburners to force an error from Conor Conlon before finishing from a tight angle.

Terenure leveled late in the half through livewire attacking midfielder Eamon Carvill, who converted at the back post after Hamza Rahoul's long throw was deflected into his path, and in the second half it was Carvill who put the blues in front, bursting through the Seaford defence on a swift counter-attack before picking out the top corner.

Quinn got his marching orders on 67, picking up a second yellow for simulation, and Jamie McCaul equalised again for Seaford immediately after, racing onto a Mulholland pass before  sitting the keeper down and walking the ball into the net.

But it all went from for the Penguins from there, as two Terenure subs gave the ten men an unassailable lead. First, Carl Whelan bundled in from close range after they had made first contact on a wide free kick, before Liam Whelan unleashed a powerful 25-yard strike that gave McLoughlin no chance.

5-3 down, Seaford toiled for a way back into the match but rarely threatened until injury time when keeper Gavin Moore somehow kept out McGeady's point-blank effort.

Another disappointing away trip for Seaford, but a display which will offer plenty of encouragement for better days ahead.

Seaford: Fionn McLoughlin, Eoin O'Farrell (Zitian Xiang, 75), Sheldan Matans, Craig Conlon, Alan McGeady, Hugo Spellman (Mate Salacan, 80), Matthew Dowley (Tadhg O'Shea, 68), Shane Halpin (Jamie McCaul, 68), Richie Mulholland, Shane Downes (Cormac McLoughlin, 80), Sean Cox

Terenure Rangers: 1 Gavin Moore, 2 Connlaoth McSherry, 3 Hamza Rahoui, 4 Conor Condon, 5 Kevin O'Sullivan, 6 Michael Nevin, 7 Steven Quinn, 8 Jamie O' Rourke, 9 Shane Clarke, 10 Eamon Carvill, 11 Bailey O'Rourke. Subs: Alman Salama, Liam Whelan, Carl Redmond, Rian Knox, Rory Kiely