Match Report: Seaford Rock United 2-2 St Mochta's
LSL Sat Major 1B
St Mochta's netted twice in the final five minutes to deny Seaford an unlikely victory in the Blackrock sunshine.
With a heavily depleted side following three defeats on the spin, and facing an opponent who had stayed undefeated for more than six months, it seemed a daunting task on paper for the home side.
But in contrast to the sides' previous meeting just a week earlier, when Seaford took the lead against the run of play only to succumb to a second-half Mochta's onslaught, the men in white were full value for their lead after a superb display, only to run out of steam during the dramatic finale.
Seaford created the first opening inside five minutes when from Gavin Walsh's through-ball, Peter Tierney,managed to get toal-side of Anthony Murphy, only to direct his lob just wide of the post.
At the other end, Simon McGinty made a fine fingertip save to deny Glen O'Donnell's header, before Tierney broke his first-team duck by giving Seaford the lead, pouncing on an undercooked backpass from Brian Kelly before firing past Adam Kmet.
Seaford had offered a sustained threat down their left side, with Fionn Geoghegan and Darragh Connolly linking up superbly, and Connolly almost doubled the lead late in the half when he skinned Craig Murray but poked his shot just wide.
Into the second half, and for all the possession enjoyed by the Saints, they struggled to create clear-cut chances, other than from Murphy's sling-shot throw-ins, and the hosts doubled their lead on 69 minutes. Substitute Mark Sullivan nicked the ball off a Mochta's defender and laid in Tierney who made no mistake.
But the turning point of the match came with five minutes to play when Walsh was penalised for handling a Mochta's cross, and Mark Sheridan fired home the penalty to halve the deficit.
It was a siege now, with Sheridan running the match for the visitors, and after some frantic Seaford defending, the Saints levelled in injury time through Aaron O'Brien., who prodded into the net after Seaford failed to clear their lines.
There was still time for McGinty to rescue a point for his team with a breathtaking tip over the bar to keep out McCauley's curling effort, and even after that Mochta's had the ball in the net only to be denied for a foul on the young keeper
The share of the points dents Mochta's hopes of catching Rush Athletic in the title race, and edges Seaford a little closer to safety, even if they will be sore about their failure to claim all three after such a brave performance.
Seaford: Simon McGinty, Eoin Mahon, Fionn Geoghegan, Fionn Lawlor, Stephen Kelly, Paul Lydon (Piers Shelton, 85), Gavin Walsh,,Darragh Connolly (Richie Mulholland, 78), Conan Murphy (Mark Sullivan, 63), MJ Tierney, Peter Tierney. Goals: P TIerney (28, 69), Lydon (30)
St Mochta's: Adam Kmet, Craig Murray, Brian Kelly, Anthony Murphy, David Bellew (Mark Sheridan, h/t), John O'Leary (Dylan Sweeny, 63), Aaron O'Brien, Craig Sheridan, Glen O'Donnell, Graham Hughes (Dean Walsh, 81), Mick McCauley. Goals: M Sheridan (86 pen), O'Brien (90=1)
Rockfield Park, 28 April 2018
With a heavily depleted side following three defeats on the spin, and facing an opponent who had stayed undefeated for more than six months, it seemed a daunting task on paper for the home side.
But in contrast to the sides' previous meeting just a week earlier, when Seaford took the lead against the run of play only to succumb to a second-half Mochta's onslaught, the men in white were full value for their lead after a superb display, only to run out of steam during the dramatic finale.
Seaford created the first opening inside five minutes when from Gavin Walsh's through-ball, Peter Tierney,managed to get toal-side of Anthony Murphy, only to direct his lob just wide of the post.
At the other end, Simon McGinty made a fine fingertip save to deny Glen O'Donnell's header, before Tierney broke his first-team duck by giving Seaford the lead, pouncing on an undercooked backpass from Brian Kelly before firing past Adam Kmet.
Seaford had offered a sustained threat down their left side, with Fionn Geoghegan and Darragh Connolly linking up superbly, and Connolly almost doubled the lead late in the half when he skinned Craig Murray but poked his shot just wide.
Into the second half, and for all the possession enjoyed by the Saints, they struggled to create clear-cut chances, other than from Murphy's sling-shot throw-ins, and the hosts doubled their lead on 69 minutes. Substitute Mark Sullivan nicked the ball off a Mochta's defender and laid in Tierney who made no mistake.
But the turning point of the match came with five minutes to play when Walsh was penalised for handling a Mochta's cross, and Mark Sheridan fired home the penalty to halve the deficit.
It was a siege now, with Sheridan running the match for the visitors, and after some frantic Seaford defending, the Saints levelled in injury time through Aaron O'Brien., who prodded into the net after Seaford failed to clear their lines.
There was still time for McGinty to rescue a point for his team with a breathtaking tip over the bar to keep out McCauley's curling effort, and even after that Mochta's had the ball in the net only to be denied for a foul on the young keeper
The share of the points dents Mochta's hopes of catching Rush Athletic in the title race, and edges Seaford a little closer to safety, even if they will be sore about their failure to claim all three after such a brave performance.
Seaford: Simon McGinty, Eoin Mahon, Fionn Geoghegan, Fionn Lawlor, Stephen Kelly, Paul Lydon (Piers Shelton, 85), Gavin Walsh,,Darragh Connolly (Richie Mulholland, 78), Conan Murphy (Mark Sullivan, 63), MJ Tierney, Peter Tierney. Goals: P TIerney (28, 69), Lydon (30)
St Mochta's: Adam Kmet, Craig Murray, Brian Kelly, Anthony Murphy, David Bellew (Mark Sheridan, h/t), John O'Leary (Dylan Sweeny, 63), Aaron O'Brien, Craig Sheridan, Glen O'Donnell, Graham Hughes (Dean Walsh, 81), Mick McCauley. Goals: M Sheridan (86 pen), O'Brien (90=1)
Rockfield Park, 28 April 2018