Match Report: Seaford Rock United 1-2 Corduff
Noel Ryan Cup
Seaford dominated the first half but wilted in the second, suffering an embarrassing exit in the first round of the Ryan Cup
It was a nightmare start for the hosts, as Corduff earned a penalty during their first attack when Paul Tansey was penalised for a foul on Jake Thomas, who converted the spot kick himself.
But the rest of the first half was all Seaford. In-form winger Darragh Connolly skinned Harry Fitzgerald before setting up Darragh Roche, who couldn't beat Paul McCarthy, before McCarthy saved Jim Nolan 's dipping volley. Then, a Roche cross caused panic in the Corduff ranks, with Cian McGuinness rising highest to win the ball, but Connolly was unable to convert at the back post, before Garrett Connolly forced another fine save from McCarthy after cutting in from the right.
And it was the same man who drew Seaford level on 27 minutes, intercepting a loose pass across the visitors' defence before bearing in on goal and slotting the ball inside McCarthy's near post.
It was a different match in the second half, however, and it was Seaford's debutant keeper Neil Howarth who shone, making a brilliant double-save to keep out first Thomas and then Leon Nolan, and later pulling off an even better save to push John Kerr's header over the bar. In between, McGuinness had intervened with a brilliant block to prevent what seemed a certain goal, after Thomas took advantage of a lucky ricochet to set up Nolan.
Seaford's luck ran out with seven to play when Nolan's 20 yard effort was deflected past Howarth and into the corner of the net. The hosts scrambled frantically to try to find another equaliser, with Oli Wright going closest with a header that went just over the bar, but it wasn't to be, and the Penguins suffered their first defeat of the season
Seaford: Neil Howarth, Darragh Roche (Matteo La Placa, 78), Paul Tansey, Cian McGuinness, Fionn Lawlor, Oli Wright, Jim Nolan (Ryan McEnroe, 53), Chris Monk, Darragh Connolly. Garrett Connolly (Conan Murphy, 81), Stephen Canavan.
Corduff: Paul McCarthy, Danny Bradley (Sortue Marques, 48), John Kerr, Paul Kelleghan, Harry Fitzgerald (Stephan Morley, h/t), David Gilsenan, Anthony Cash, Jake Thomas, Leon Nolan, Mustapha Muibideen, Josh Saunders
Rockfield Park, 14 September 2019
It was a nightmare start for the hosts, as Corduff earned a penalty during their first attack when Paul Tansey was penalised for a foul on Jake Thomas, who converted the spot kick himself.
But the rest of the first half was all Seaford. In-form winger Darragh Connolly skinned Harry Fitzgerald before setting up Darragh Roche, who couldn't beat Paul McCarthy, before McCarthy saved Jim Nolan 's dipping volley. Then, a Roche cross caused panic in the Corduff ranks, with Cian McGuinness rising highest to win the ball, but Connolly was unable to convert at the back post, before Garrett Connolly forced another fine save from McCarthy after cutting in from the right.
And it was the same man who drew Seaford level on 27 minutes, intercepting a loose pass across the visitors' defence before bearing in on goal and slotting the ball inside McCarthy's near post.
It was a different match in the second half, however, and it was Seaford's debutant keeper Neil Howarth who shone, making a brilliant double-save to keep out first Thomas and then Leon Nolan, and later pulling off an even better save to push John Kerr's header over the bar. In between, McGuinness had intervened with a brilliant block to prevent what seemed a certain goal, after Thomas took advantage of a lucky ricochet to set up Nolan.
Seaford's luck ran out with seven to play when Nolan's 20 yard effort was deflected past Howarth and into the corner of the net. The hosts scrambled frantically to try to find another equaliser, with Oli Wright going closest with a header that went just over the bar, but it wasn't to be, and the Penguins suffered their first defeat of the season
Seaford: Neil Howarth, Darragh Roche (Matteo La Placa, 78), Paul Tansey, Cian McGuinness, Fionn Lawlor, Oli Wright, Jim Nolan (Ryan McEnroe, 53), Chris Monk, Darragh Connolly. Garrett Connolly (Conan Murphy, 81), Stephen Canavan.
Corduff: Paul McCarthy, Danny Bradley (Sortue Marques, 48), John Kerr, Paul Kelleghan, Harry Fitzgerald (Stephan Morley, h/t), David Gilsenan, Anthony Cash, Jake Thomas, Leon Nolan, Mustapha Muibideen, Josh Saunders
Rockfield Park, 14 September 2019