Seaford Rock United 1-0 Blessington AFC
LSL Sat Div 3
A second half strike from Rory O'Huiginn earned Seaford's seconds a hard-fought win in their first home match since October.
On a dreadful surface at Rockfield Park, both sides struggled to create chances. Striker Paidi O'Fatharta had Seaford's best opportunity of the opening 45 minutes, but was unable to convert at the back post after Donal Howley had beaten his man and delivered a fine cross. At the other end, keeper Dylan O'Reilly was a virtual spectator for large parts of teh game.
O'Huiginn had lit up a dreary match with some sublime play in Seaford's midfield trio, despite the increasingly physical attentions of a Blessington side that was determined to impede him by fair means or foul. Late in the half, he set up Howley with a clever one-two, but the winger was unable to find the back of the net.
Seaford's winner came shortly after the hour mark. From a free kick near the edge of the box, Francis Mulhall teed up O'Fatharta, whose scuffed shot fell to Darren Grealish in the box, and Grealish's own effort was despatched from close range by O'Huiginn.
O'Huiginn continued to bamboozle the visitors with his serpentine dribbling skills, which almost led to an astonishing second, when he evaded four opponents to find himself through on goal, only to see his effort strike the post.
Blessington began to exert some pressure as the match began to slip away from them, with Mikey Kane denying them with a goalline clearance before O'Reilly saved from their striker in a one-on-one situation. Despite the late bombardment, however, Seaford clung on for a second consecutive clean sheet and a satisfying win.
Seaford: D O'Reilly; M Kane, R Murray, S Harding, D Grealish; B Kirwan (c), F Mulhall , R O'Huiginn, S Lauritsch, D Howley (R O'Riordan, 85), P O'Fatharta (C McCarron, 73). Goal: R O'Huiginn (63)
Rockfield Park, Blackrock - 27 February 2016
On a dreadful surface at Rockfield Park, both sides struggled to create chances. Striker Paidi O'Fatharta had Seaford's best opportunity of the opening 45 minutes, but was unable to convert at the back post after Donal Howley had beaten his man and delivered a fine cross. At the other end, keeper Dylan O'Reilly was a virtual spectator for large parts of teh game.
O'Huiginn had lit up a dreary match with some sublime play in Seaford's midfield trio, despite the increasingly physical attentions of a Blessington side that was determined to impede him by fair means or foul. Late in the half, he set up Howley with a clever one-two, but the winger was unable to find the back of the net.
Seaford's winner came shortly after the hour mark. From a free kick near the edge of the box, Francis Mulhall teed up O'Fatharta, whose scuffed shot fell to Darren Grealish in the box, and Grealish's own effort was despatched from close range by O'Huiginn.
O'Huiginn continued to bamboozle the visitors with his serpentine dribbling skills, which almost led to an astonishing second, when he evaded four opponents to find himself through on goal, only to see his effort strike the post.
Blessington began to exert some pressure as the match began to slip away from them, with Mikey Kane denying them with a goalline clearance before O'Reilly saved from their striker in a one-on-one situation. Despite the late bombardment, however, Seaford clung on for a second consecutive clean sheet and a satisfying win.
Seaford: D O'Reilly; M Kane, R Murray, S Harding, D Grealish; B Kirwan (c), F Mulhall , R O'Huiginn, S Lauritsch, D Howley (R O'Riordan, 85), P O'Fatharta (C McCarron, 73). Goal: R O'Huiginn (63)
Rockfield Park, Blackrock - 27 February 2016