Match Report: Seaford Rock United 3-2 Kilnamanagh
LSL Saturday Major 1A
.Seaford produced a sparkling display in the first half and a dogged one in the second to secure a superb win over the league leaders.
The Penguins blitzed Kilnamanagh during the opening quarter of an hour, during which Garrett Connolly netted twice. For his first, he collected Paul Tansey's cross at the back post, controlling instantly before finding the bottom corner of the net, and his second was even better, as he received a throw-in from his brother Darragh before cutting infield and curling a pinpoint shot out of Mick Lonergan's reach.
In between, Seaford had survived a scare when Gavin Walsh miscued the ball against his own post, before recovering brilliantly to get to the rebound and deny the onrushing striker a tap-in
The hosts lost two of their midfielders in the space of sixty second, as both Sam Browne and Andy Roe were forced off with injury, but one of the replacements, (Jim Nolan almost scored with his first touch, only to see his sidefooted effort denied by a sensational Lonergan save. At the other end, Stephen Kelly made a superb saving tackle to snuff out a chance when it looked like Dave Byrne was clean through on goal.
But it was Seaford who got the crucial third goal on 36 minutes when Darragh Connolly's free kick was headed back into th edanger area by Garrett, enabling Stephen Canavan to head home from close range.
Kilnamanagh started the second half brightly, with Dave Kilbride pulling one back on 53, and they introduced a couple of top quality substitutes who helped ratchet up the pressure on the hosts. Luke Doyle had a great opportunity to make it 3-2 but fired wide after a swift counter-attack, before the Tallaght men eventually found a breakthrough in fortunate circumstances when Stephen Kinch got in behind the defence and fluked his finish, the ball bouncing off his hip and knee before bobbling past Robbie Moran. Bur Moran, would have the last laugh, making a stunning fingertip save to divert Kinch's effort onto the post during injury time, with Tansey doing exceptionally well to prevent Kilbride putting the rebound into the empty net.
The win means it's a solid start to the season for Burnsie's boys, with seven points from the opening four games.
Seaford: Robbie Moran, Gavin Walsh, Paul Tansey, Stephen Kelly, Cian McGuinness, Fionn Lawlor, Sam Browne (Oli Wright, 25), Andy Roe (Jim Nolan, 26) Darragh Connolly (Alex Smirnoff, 77) . Garrett Connolly (Darragh Roche, 88), Stephen Canavan.
Kilnamanagh:Mick Lonergan (Olen Doherty, 44), Jack McEntee, Adam Finlan, Stephen Murphy, Jay Lonergan, Dave Kilbride, David O'Reilly (Mark Darcy, 53), Dave Byrne (Stephen Kinch, 60), Anto Manevy, Ciaran Maher (Luke Doyle, 53)
Rockfield Park, 7 September 2019
The Penguins blitzed Kilnamanagh during the opening quarter of an hour, during which Garrett Connolly netted twice. For his first, he collected Paul Tansey's cross at the back post, controlling instantly before finding the bottom corner of the net, and his second was even better, as he received a throw-in from his brother Darragh before cutting infield and curling a pinpoint shot out of Mick Lonergan's reach.
In between, Seaford had survived a scare when Gavin Walsh miscued the ball against his own post, before recovering brilliantly to get to the rebound and deny the onrushing striker a tap-in
The hosts lost two of their midfielders in the space of sixty second, as both Sam Browne and Andy Roe were forced off with injury, but one of the replacements, (Jim Nolan almost scored with his first touch, only to see his sidefooted effort denied by a sensational Lonergan save. At the other end, Stephen Kelly made a superb saving tackle to snuff out a chance when it looked like Dave Byrne was clean through on goal.
But it was Seaford who got the crucial third goal on 36 minutes when Darragh Connolly's free kick was headed back into th edanger area by Garrett, enabling Stephen Canavan to head home from close range.
Kilnamanagh started the second half brightly, with Dave Kilbride pulling one back on 53, and they introduced a couple of top quality substitutes who helped ratchet up the pressure on the hosts. Luke Doyle had a great opportunity to make it 3-2 but fired wide after a swift counter-attack, before the Tallaght men eventually found a breakthrough in fortunate circumstances when Stephen Kinch got in behind the defence and fluked his finish, the ball bouncing off his hip and knee before bobbling past Robbie Moran. Bur Moran, would have the last laugh, making a stunning fingertip save to divert Kinch's effort onto the post during injury time, with Tansey doing exceptionally well to prevent Kilbride putting the rebound into the empty net.
The win means it's a solid start to the season for Burnsie's boys, with seven points from the opening four games.
Seaford: Robbie Moran, Gavin Walsh, Paul Tansey, Stephen Kelly, Cian McGuinness, Fionn Lawlor, Sam Browne (Oli Wright, 25), Andy Roe (Jim Nolan, 26) Darragh Connolly (Alex Smirnoff, 77) . Garrett Connolly (Darragh Roche, 88), Stephen Canavan.
Kilnamanagh:Mick Lonergan (Olen Doherty, 44), Jack McEntee, Adam Finlan, Stephen Murphy, Jay Lonergan, Dave Kilbride, David O'Reilly (Mark Darcy, 53), Dave Byrne (Stephen Kinch, 60), Anto Manevy, Ciaran Maher (Luke Doyle, 53)
Rockfield Park, 7 September 2019