Match Report: Seaford Rock United 4-3 Beggsboro (after extra time)
LFA Junior Cup, Second Round
Seaford came from two down in the second half to progress to the third round of the Leinster Junior Cup with a battling extra time win over Beggsboro.
On a difficult surface at Rockfield Park, Seaford made much the stronger start, taking the lead inside five minutes through Garrett Connolly, making his full debut for the first team. Eoin English picked out Denis Donnelly with a long diagonal, the big Kerryman winning a superb header to put Kosei Masaki through on goal, and although the Japanese youngster's effort was saved by Aaron Kelly, his striker partner Connolly converted the rebound from close range.
Seaford ought to have pulled further clear, as the goalscorer headed just wide from his brother Darragh's corner, before both Connolly brothers went close to finding the net from Paul Tansey's cross.
Beggsboro equalised with their first meaningful effort on goal. It was a disappointing goal to concede for the home side, as Kelly's downfield punt put striker Dean Mullen in on goal, and he produced a fine finish across English into the far corner.
Tansey remained the key man for Seaford, bursting down the left wing to great effect, first putting Masaki in one-on-one, only for Kelly to save, and then whipping in another brilliant cross to the near post, where Garrett Connolly collided with Kelly as they both went for the ball, which ricocheted inches wide.
Seaford had been temporarily reduced to ten men whilst Connolly received treatment for ahead injury when Beggsboro took the lead through Aaron Horan who headed in after a diagonal ball to the back post.
And it got worse for the men in blue in the second half, when an error by Alan Brennan was punished ruthlessly, as Mullen set up Horan to make it 3-1.
But from then on, Seaford dominated in terms of possession and chances and gradually they hauled themselves back into the match. They pulled one back on 69 minutes after superb work by substitute Chris Monk, who received a cross-field pass from Fionn Lawlor, skipped past a defender, and then cut back onto his less favoured left foot to produce a brilliant cross which Darragh Connolly dispatched from close range.
Masaki seemed certain to equalise when he rounded the keeper on 77 minutes , only to be denied by a brilliant block on the goalline by Mick Hill, but he wouldn't have to wait much longer for his moment, as he met Neil Harrington's corner with a bullet header to make it 3-3.
There were no further goals in he 90 minutes, but Seaford continued to hold boss the match during extra time, and it was no surprise that the winning goal was caused by Masaki's direct running, as he rode one challenge before being barged over in the box by Lee Donoghue. Conor Tobin netted the resultant penalty to book Seaford's spot in the third round of the provincial competition.
Seaford: Eoin English; Fionn Lawlor, Alan Brennan (Chris Monk, 57), Steve Kane, Denis Donnelly (Fionn Geoghegan, 53), Paul Tansey Neil Harrington, Paul Lydon, Darragh Connolly (Richard Barrett, 99), Kosei Masaki (Gavin Walsh, 101), Garrett Connolly (Conor Tobin, 43). Goals: G Connolly (5), D Connolly (69), Masaki (81), Tobin (94 pen)
Beggsboro: Aaron Kelly, Kaiem Ali, Andries Todorov, Lee Donoghue, Mick Hill, Niall Kennedy (Craig Byrne, 69), Aaron Horan (Jack O;Connor, 75), Jack Lee, Dean Mullen (Eoghan McClean, 75), Ian McGillverey, Michael Bullman, Goals: Mullen (22), Horan (37, 56)
Rockfield Park, 7 October 2017
On a difficult surface at Rockfield Park, Seaford made much the stronger start, taking the lead inside five minutes through Garrett Connolly, making his full debut for the first team. Eoin English picked out Denis Donnelly with a long diagonal, the big Kerryman winning a superb header to put Kosei Masaki through on goal, and although the Japanese youngster's effort was saved by Aaron Kelly, his striker partner Connolly converted the rebound from close range.
Seaford ought to have pulled further clear, as the goalscorer headed just wide from his brother Darragh's corner, before both Connolly brothers went close to finding the net from Paul Tansey's cross.
Beggsboro equalised with their first meaningful effort on goal. It was a disappointing goal to concede for the home side, as Kelly's downfield punt put striker Dean Mullen in on goal, and he produced a fine finish across English into the far corner.
Tansey remained the key man for Seaford, bursting down the left wing to great effect, first putting Masaki in one-on-one, only for Kelly to save, and then whipping in another brilliant cross to the near post, where Garrett Connolly collided with Kelly as they both went for the ball, which ricocheted inches wide.
Seaford had been temporarily reduced to ten men whilst Connolly received treatment for ahead injury when Beggsboro took the lead through Aaron Horan who headed in after a diagonal ball to the back post.
And it got worse for the men in blue in the second half, when an error by Alan Brennan was punished ruthlessly, as Mullen set up Horan to make it 3-1.
But from then on, Seaford dominated in terms of possession and chances and gradually they hauled themselves back into the match. They pulled one back on 69 minutes after superb work by substitute Chris Monk, who received a cross-field pass from Fionn Lawlor, skipped past a defender, and then cut back onto his less favoured left foot to produce a brilliant cross which Darragh Connolly dispatched from close range.
Masaki seemed certain to equalise when he rounded the keeper on 77 minutes , only to be denied by a brilliant block on the goalline by Mick Hill, but he wouldn't have to wait much longer for his moment, as he met Neil Harrington's corner with a bullet header to make it 3-3.
There were no further goals in he 90 minutes, but Seaford continued to hold boss the match during extra time, and it was no surprise that the winning goal was caused by Masaki's direct running, as he rode one challenge before being barged over in the box by Lee Donoghue. Conor Tobin netted the resultant penalty to book Seaford's spot in the third round of the provincial competition.
Seaford: Eoin English; Fionn Lawlor, Alan Brennan (Chris Monk, 57), Steve Kane, Denis Donnelly (Fionn Geoghegan, 53), Paul Tansey Neil Harrington, Paul Lydon, Darragh Connolly (Richard Barrett, 99), Kosei Masaki (Gavin Walsh, 101), Garrett Connolly (Conor Tobin, 43). Goals: G Connolly (5), D Connolly (69), Masaki (81), Tobin (94 pen)
Beggsboro: Aaron Kelly, Kaiem Ali, Andries Todorov, Lee Donoghue, Mick Hill, Niall Kennedy (Craig Byrne, 69), Aaron Horan (Jack O;Connor, 75), Jack Lee, Dean Mullen (Eoghan McClean, 75), Ian McGillverey, Michael Bullman, Goals: Mullen (22), Horan (37, 56)
Rockfield Park, 7 October 2017