Match Report: Swords Celtic 3-6 Seaford Rock United
Lanigan Cup
Seaford notched a handsome win in north County Dublin, with Ryan Scollard to move into the next round of the Lanigan Cup.
It was a high-octane start for the Penguins who were two goals up inside three minutes. FIrst, Ben Kelly got free at the back post, only to see his attempted lob bounce back off the crossbar, allowing Brian Murphy to convert the rebound.
Moments after the restart, Scollard burst through on goal and slammed it into the corner of the net.
Scollard's second of the game was an extraordinary effort, as he drilled home from 45 yards, with keeper Alex Kavanagh stranded in midfield after a botched short free-kick.
The visitors were rampant now, with Kavanagh making a fine save to deny Scollard, who soared highest to meet a Darragh Roche cross, before later denying Stephen Canavan and seeing a Jamie McCaul effort strike the woodwork.
It was 0-4 shortly before halftime from another classy break, as Al Kennedy released McCaul down the left and he squared for Scollard to convert, making it two hat-tricks in two games against Swords this season.
It threatened to get worse for the hosts after half-time as Kelly burst forward to release Canavan, whose chupped finish again hit the bar.
Instead, Swords clawed their way back into the game, with Derek O'Flaherty curling in from the edge of the box, before Oisin Geoghegan made a brilliant low save to keep out Gavin Logan's volley.
And when Kelly saw his attempted clearance richochet into the back of the net for 2-4, Seaford suddently looked shaken
But Murphy calmed the Penguins' nerves by bagging his second of the evening, and despite Darren Fanning pulled another one back for Swords late on, it was Seaford who had the final day, with an aggressive press deep in injury time creating a chance for MJ Tierney to chip home a sixth.
Seaford:, Oisin Geoghegan, Darragh Roche, Brian Murphy, Sam Browne (Luke Hedderman, 77), Oli Wright (Chris Monk 62), Ben Kelly (Conor Fennell, 77), Al Kennedy, Jamie McCaul (Lewis Cawley, 62), Ryan Scollard, Stephen Canavan (MJ Tierney, 77)
Swords Celtic: Alex Kavanagh, Eoin Burke (Aidan O'Reilly , h/t), David Cox (Darragh Gill, 70), Shane Verdon, Gavin Logan, Kody Honer, Darren Fanning, Alik Alimi, Kieran McGrath (Andrew Barker, 37), Derek O'Flaherty (Simon Honan, 78), Sean Hallahan (Dean Caul, h/t)
Balheary Reservoir, 19 February 2024
It was a high-octane start for the Penguins who were two goals up inside three minutes. FIrst, Ben Kelly got free at the back post, only to see his attempted lob bounce back off the crossbar, allowing Brian Murphy to convert the rebound.
Moments after the restart, Scollard burst through on goal and slammed it into the corner of the net.
Scollard's second of the game was an extraordinary effort, as he drilled home from 45 yards, with keeper Alex Kavanagh stranded in midfield after a botched short free-kick.
The visitors were rampant now, with Kavanagh making a fine save to deny Scollard, who soared highest to meet a Darragh Roche cross, before later denying Stephen Canavan and seeing a Jamie McCaul effort strike the woodwork.
It was 0-4 shortly before halftime from another classy break, as Al Kennedy released McCaul down the left and he squared for Scollard to convert, making it two hat-tricks in two games against Swords this season.
It threatened to get worse for the hosts after half-time as Kelly burst forward to release Canavan, whose chupped finish again hit the bar.
Instead, Swords clawed their way back into the game, with Derek O'Flaherty curling in from the edge of the box, before Oisin Geoghegan made a brilliant low save to keep out Gavin Logan's volley.
And when Kelly saw his attempted clearance richochet into the back of the net for 2-4, Seaford suddently looked shaken
But Murphy calmed the Penguins' nerves by bagging his second of the evening, and despite Darren Fanning pulled another one back for Swords late on, it was Seaford who had the final day, with an aggressive press deep in injury time creating a chance for MJ Tierney to chip home a sixth.
Seaford:, Oisin Geoghegan, Darragh Roche, Brian Murphy, Sam Browne (Luke Hedderman, 77), Oli Wright (Chris Monk 62), Ben Kelly (Conor Fennell, 77), Al Kennedy, Jamie McCaul (Lewis Cawley, 62), Ryan Scollard, Stephen Canavan (MJ Tierney, 77)
Swords Celtic: Alex Kavanagh, Eoin Burke (Aidan O'Reilly , h/t), David Cox (Darragh Gill, 70), Shane Verdon, Gavin Logan, Kody Honer, Darren Fanning, Alik Alimi, Kieran McGrath (Andrew Barker, 37), Derek O'Flaherty (Simon Honan, 78), Sean Hallahan (Dean Caul, h/t)
Balheary Reservoir, 19 February 2024
