Match Report: Portmarnock 1-0 Seaford Rock United
LSL Sat Major !A
Portmarnock deservedly took all three points but Mother Nature was the real winner at Paddy's Hill.
It was far from a classic, as Storm Ciara battered Dublin Bay, with gale force winds blowing the length of the pitch. Both sides played far better against the wind than with it at their backs, but when it seemed neither side would mange to find the back of the net in such difficult conditions, Portmarnock's Ciaran Lyons headed in a late winner.
Overcoming the ferocious gusts blowing in their faces, Seaford defended bravely in the first half and mustered some decent opportunities of their own, with Stephen Canavan firing just wide after a clever Mike O'Neill dummy before Darragh Connolly was inches from opening the scoring, meeting Chris Monk;s cross with a deft near-post flick.
Seaford's defensive display was excellent, largely limiting the hosts to efforts from range, although Cian McGregor did manage to fire against the bar from one
Unsurprisingly, the game turned on its head after the break as the Penguins took control. Portmarnock retained a threat on the break , with Noel McGinnity drawing a smart save from Neil Howarth but it seemed only a matter of time before the navy blues made the breakthrough. Canavan went agonisingly close when set up by Connolly following a slick move, and Monk was unable to force the ball into the net, meeting a Connolly delivery from just a couple of yards out.
But Portmarnock came with a strong spell in the final quarter, as McGregor cracked another effort off the woodwork, before two subs combined for the winning goal, with Lyons heading home a left wing cross from Adam Greene.
Seaford: Neil Howarth, Stephen Kelly (Steve Kane, 77) Paul Tansey, (Jim Nolan, 77), Ian Nolan, Cian McGuinness, Sam Browne, Mike O'Neill (Harry Crowe, 68) Fionn Lawlor (Jack Burke, 68), Chris Monk, Darragh Connolly, (Alex Smirnoff, 77), Stephen Canavan ,
Portmarnock: Dylan Fitzpatrick, Darragh Brennan, Tom Sullivan, James Hendricken, Rory Walsh, Conor Walsh, Ian Bailey (Adam Greene, 52), Noel McGinnity, Matthew O'Brien (Ciaran Lyons, 59), Cian McGregor, Darren Daly. Goal: Lyons (76)
Paddy's Hill, 8 February 2020
It was far from a classic, as Storm Ciara battered Dublin Bay, with gale force winds blowing the length of the pitch. Both sides played far better against the wind than with it at their backs, but when it seemed neither side would mange to find the back of the net in such difficult conditions, Portmarnock's Ciaran Lyons headed in a late winner.
Overcoming the ferocious gusts blowing in their faces, Seaford defended bravely in the first half and mustered some decent opportunities of their own, with Stephen Canavan firing just wide after a clever Mike O'Neill dummy before Darragh Connolly was inches from opening the scoring, meeting Chris Monk;s cross with a deft near-post flick.
Seaford's defensive display was excellent, largely limiting the hosts to efforts from range, although Cian McGregor did manage to fire against the bar from one
Unsurprisingly, the game turned on its head after the break as the Penguins took control. Portmarnock retained a threat on the break , with Noel McGinnity drawing a smart save from Neil Howarth but it seemed only a matter of time before the navy blues made the breakthrough. Canavan went agonisingly close when set up by Connolly following a slick move, and Monk was unable to force the ball into the net, meeting a Connolly delivery from just a couple of yards out.
But Portmarnock came with a strong spell in the final quarter, as McGregor cracked another effort off the woodwork, before two subs combined for the winning goal, with Lyons heading home a left wing cross from Adam Greene.
Seaford: Neil Howarth, Stephen Kelly (Steve Kane, 77) Paul Tansey, (Jim Nolan, 77), Ian Nolan, Cian McGuinness, Sam Browne, Mike O'Neill (Harry Crowe, 68) Fionn Lawlor (Jack Burke, 68), Chris Monk, Darragh Connolly, (Alex Smirnoff, 77), Stephen Canavan ,
Portmarnock: Dylan Fitzpatrick, Darragh Brennan, Tom Sullivan, James Hendricken, Rory Walsh, Conor Walsh, Ian Bailey (Adam Greene, 52), Noel McGinnity, Matthew O'Brien (Ciaran Lyons, 59), Cian McGregor, Darren Daly. Goal: Lyons (76)
Paddy's Hill, 8 February 2020