Match Report: St Francis 3-1 Seaford Rock United
LSL Saturday Major 1
St Francis had a bit too much quality for Seaford and deservedly secured all three points in Baldonnel, despite a spirited performance from the visitors.
Top spot in Major 1 was on the line, and the hosts controlled possession during the first half, albeit without creating too many too many chances. Leon O'Brien smashed a free kick at goal early on, but Oisin Geoghegan sprang across his goalline and parried it wide, and Lee McEvoy had two impressive efforts from range, one just to the left of the post and one to the right.
In between, Seaford had a huge penalty shout turned down when Darragh Roche burst forward down the right and picked out Stephen Canavan, who produced a moment of magic to evade two defenders on the edge of the box, only to be cleaned out as he was about the pull the trigger.
And the Penguins were even more aggrieved a few minutes later when a superb pass from skipper Al Kennedy picked out Jamie McCaul, who slotted home only to be called offside.
Seaford were on top now, and went close again when Jimmy Hussey burst past two defenders and squared, but keeper Gary Cleary reacted quickest and dived on the ball before Canavan could convert.
Instead, it was St Francis who opened the scoring late in the half when their two livewire wingers combined, as Sam Kennedy played a dangerous ball across the six-yard line for McEvoy to tap in.
But Seaford levelled immediately, when the peerless set piece expert MJ Tierney whipped in an inch-perfect corner for Ryan Scollard to head home.
Into the second half, and the same pattern continued, as St Francis had plenty of the ball, but Seaford maintained a threat with direct attacks and set-pieces. Conor Geoghegan tested Cleary with a bullet header on 59.
The Penguins were punished minutes later and i was a carbon copy goal, as this time David Long did brilliantly to evade his man and square for McEvoy to arrive at the back post.
Now Francis looked like kicking on and extending their lead. The skilful Kennedy did brilliantly to work a chance for himself, but fired just wide, and then Leon Dempsey cracked one off the bar, and with only five minutes to play McEvoy doubled their advantage, firing home from a Dylan Stack assist.
Canavan had a great opportunity to make a game of it when he headed wide from a Hussey delivery, but the hosts held on resolutely and were good value for the win.
Seaford:, Oisin Geoghegan, Darragh Roche, MJ Tierney (Conor Fennell, 87), Al Kennedy,, Sam Browne, Conor Geoghegan, Jimmy Hussey, . Jamie McCaul (MJ TIerney, 75), Ryan Scollard , Elridge Altereitth (Brian Murphy, 71) Stephen Canavan,
St Francis: Gary Cleary, James Farrell (Arron Curtis, 10), Ben Madden (David Long, 55), Thomas White, Rian Egan, Adam Downes, Leon Dempsey, Dylan Stack (James Foley, 88), Leon O'Brien (Matthew Reynolds, 79), Sam Kennedy , Lee McEvoy
John Hyland Park, 24 March 2023
Top spot in Major 1 was on the line, and the hosts controlled possession during the first half, albeit without creating too many too many chances. Leon O'Brien smashed a free kick at goal early on, but Oisin Geoghegan sprang across his goalline and parried it wide, and Lee McEvoy had two impressive efforts from range, one just to the left of the post and one to the right.
In between, Seaford had a huge penalty shout turned down when Darragh Roche burst forward down the right and picked out Stephen Canavan, who produced a moment of magic to evade two defenders on the edge of the box, only to be cleaned out as he was about the pull the trigger.
And the Penguins were even more aggrieved a few minutes later when a superb pass from skipper Al Kennedy picked out Jamie McCaul, who slotted home only to be called offside.
Seaford were on top now, and went close again when Jimmy Hussey burst past two defenders and squared, but keeper Gary Cleary reacted quickest and dived on the ball before Canavan could convert.
Instead, it was St Francis who opened the scoring late in the half when their two livewire wingers combined, as Sam Kennedy played a dangerous ball across the six-yard line for McEvoy to tap in.
But Seaford levelled immediately, when the peerless set piece expert MJ Tierney whipped in an inch-perfect corner for Ryan Scollard to head home.
Into the second half, and the same pattern continued, as St Francis had plenty of the ball, but Seaford maintained a threat with direct attacks and set-pieces. Conor Geoghegan tested Cleary with a bullet header on 59.
The Penguins were punished minutes later and i was a carbon copy goal, as this time David Long did brilliantly to evade his man and square for McEvoy to arrive at the back post.
Now Francis looked like kicking on and extending their lead. The skilful Kennedy did brilliantly to work a chance for himself, but fired just wide, and then Leon Dempsey cracked one off the bar, and with only five minutes to play McEvoy doubled their advantage, firing home from a Dylan Stack assist.
Canavan had a great opportunity to make a game of it when he headed wide from a Hussey delivery, but the hosts held on resolutely and were good value for the win.
Seaford:, Oisin Geoghegan, Darragh Roche, MJ Tierney (Conor Fennell, 87), Al Kennedy,, Sam Browne, Conor Geoghegan, Jimmy Hussey, . Jamie McCaul (MJ TIerney, 75), Ryan Scollard , Elridge Altereitth (Brian Murphy, 71) Stephen Canavan,
St Francis: Gary Cleary, James Farrell (Arron Curtis, 10), Ben Madden (David Long, 55), Thomas White, Rian Egan, Adam Downes, Leon Dempsey, Dylan Stack (James Foley, 88), Leon O'Brien (Matthew Reynolds, 79), Sam Kennedy , Lee McEvoy
John Hyland Park, 24 March 2023