UCD 1-2 Shelbourne

**Burnsie** · 22/04/2006, 8:01 PM

from the University Observer...

UCD 1-2 Shelbourne

UCD were sunk by a lucky late goal to lose 2-1 to Shelbourne in a largely uninspiring slog at Belfield Park on Saturday afternoon..

Glamourous is always too strong a word when when it comes to the eircom League, but the visit of Shelbourne does bring a certain profile, hubris and even a few supporters to Belfield Park, never more so than in the week when Anglo-Italian �lawyer� Giovanni di Stefano expressed his interest in becoming involved with the club. To sell his interest to a convicted swindler of such odious reputation within and without the game would be about the only thing that Shels owner Ollie Byrne could do that would render him more unpopular in the Irish football community.

And there was little in the Reds� first half display to show what appeal the club held for di Stefano, a renowned publicity-seeker. That the game began some five minutes ahead of schedule did nothing to aid the university club�s efforts to secure public support for its new kick-off time at Saturday teatime, though any latecomers did not miss out on anything of note during the drab early exchanges.

With the visitors missing several important players through injury, the Students bossed the first half in terms of possession and territory, but struggled to create chances at goal against Shels� experiences back line. Their new strike force of Paul Byrne and Conor Sammon, which helped itself to four goals in the previous home game against Bray, struggled to make any impact, though Sammon�s energy and tenacity stood out.

The best chance of the half was when Byrne swung at and missed Pat McWalter�s bobbling cross, which fell to him some fifteen yards out and central to the goal. Shelbourne�s goalkeeper Dean Delaney was only troubled by Byrne�s curling cross-shot, which threatened to drop into the corner of the net before the former Everton custodian intervened, then diving on the ball as it squirmed away from him.

The second half could scarcely have been any worse, and indeed Shelbourne began it showing far more purpose going forward as the game became more open. On 52 minutes Sammon was put through on goal with the first clear chance, but Delaney made a smart save low to his left, and moments later at the other end Jason Byrne beat the offside trap, but his heavy first touch allowed Darren Quigley to dive on the ball. Both players injured themselves in the clash, Byrne ultimately having to leave the pitch to be replaced by Glenn Crowe.

In the 27th minute of the half, Shelbourne took the lead when Ollie Cahill�s deep cross was met powerfully by the head of striker Gary O�Neill. The goal followed a spell of good pressure by the visitors, who suddenly attacked with renewed urgency.

But within seconds, UCD scored an equaliser. Again it was a firm header from a curling cross, as Derek Doyle leapt to redirect the ball towards the far post. Delaney got a hand to it and seemed to have performed a spectacular save, but was unable to claw the ball away and the referee indicated the ball had crossed the line before being hacked away.

UCD had offered little in the second half to merit the comeback, but Shels� late winner was cruel nonetheless. Liam Kearney terrorised the Students when playing for Cork City last season, but he had had a quiet game until with five minutes remaining in the game, his volleyed pot-shot took a vicious bounce off a divot in the pitch and leapt over Quigley�s shoulder into the net. The goalie has been one of College�s best players in recent seasons, but was embarrassed by the unfortunate hop off the turf.

UCD will be disappointed at having failed to take advantage of what was a below par performance from one of the favourites for the league title, the defeat leaving them in the bottom half of the Premier League Table with seven points from their first seven matches.

UCD: Quigley; Mahon, Ryan, Shorthall, McNally; D.Doyle, Cawley (Dicker 84�), McDonnell, McWalter; P.Byrne (Hurley 63�), Sammon.

Shelbourne: Delaney; Heary, Dillon, Harris, Crawley (Rogers 90�); S.Byrne, Reynolds, Kearney, Cahill; J.Byrne (Crowe 60�), O�Neill.

**Poor Student** · 22/04/2006, 9:40 PM

A lot of focus given to what probably amounts to a non-entity of a story in the Di Stefano thingy for what's supposed to be a UCD paper and indeed giving into the very publicity seeking he's accused of.

Shels have been like that for a lot of the season and I think UCD should be more disappointed at not capitalising on what was a decent performance for us rather than a below par performance by Shels. We've held our own against Cork, Drogs and Shels now but only have a point to show for it.

I thought McWalter had a particularly strong game today.

**Dazzy** · 22/04/2006, 9:48 PM

What was the crowd like at the game?

**Poor Student** · 22/04/2006, 9:55 PM

Originally Posted by Dazzy

What was the crowd like at the game?

Neither spectacular nor disappointing. Off the top of my head I'd go with 800-900. There seemed to be a few families down at the UCD end and a fair few kids from Mt. Merrion boys club cheering for UCD. I've seen kids before from Mt. Merrion but never actually bothering to cheer the team.

**Dazzy** · 22/04/2006, 9:56 PM

Not too bad and with Waterford and Longford going downhill the way they are playing, you should look good for the new super league

**Poor Student** · 22/04/2006, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Dazzy

Not too bad and with Waterford and Longford going downhill the way they are playing, you should look good for the new super league

We shouldn't put ourselves under any illusions though. The crowd was heavily bolstered by Shels supporters. Dub City at Belfield will be the best acid test to assess the strength of our fanbase.

Also, does anyone remember a Shels player punching Quigley while he was lying on the ground in the 2nd half?

**Risteard** · 22/04/2006, 10:52 PM

not the kind of thing you'd forget really is it?
How did the two Judases get on?
Kearney play on the right wing?
Reckon he could do very well for Shels if he gives himself the chance to settle down.

**Poor Student** · 22/04/2006, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by Risteard

not the kind of thing you'd forget really is it?
How did the two Judases get on?
Kearney play on the right wing?
Reckon he could do very well for Shels if he gives himself the chance to settle down.

It's not, but I don't have the greatest eyesight. It was up at the Shels fans end. Hmmmm, I don't really remember about Cahill and Kearney. I guess that means they were neither woeful nor great. Kearney was lucky to score, but that's not his fault.

**sonofstan** · 22/04/2006, 11:15 PM

went along because I was in Belfield anyway ...... was there really 8-900 there? looked more like 500 to me, but I'm not there as often as you guys. ~Incidentally, a few signpsts from the main campus wouldn't go amiss now the old forest path is blocked off for building.

dreadful first half, which you guys shaded, i thought; figured I was going as a neutral, but its amazing how much dormant hostility Shels bring out in me.

until they scored I thought you had the measure of them, but, despite the equaliser, you didn't really get back into the game. Can't imagine the Gaffer saw much to make him rethink his plans.

**Risteard** · 22/04/2006, 11:19 PM

Sacrificing(or putting in his rightful place) Glen Crowe appears to be doing the job.

**John83** · 22/04/2006, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by sonofstan

went along because I was in Belfield anyway ...... was there really 8-900 there? looked more like 500 to me, but I'm not there as often as you guys.

Schumi did a count and got 710. Knowing him as I do, I'd estimate that there were between 709 and 711 people in the ground.

**pineapple stu** · 23/04/2006, 6:11 PM

Arse.

Missed the game - someone else want to do a match report for the website?

Bit of a pain in the arse that we've been so close to a point in both our previous games but have gotten nothing. Still, Bohs, Longford, Sligo and Dublin City to go before the end of the first round of matches - if we can get seven points out of that, we'll have set ourself up well for the rest of the season.

**pineapple stu** · 23/04/2006, 6:52 PM

Also, anyone catch the unused subs?

**Poor Student** · 23/04/2006, 6:55 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Also, anyone catch the unused subs?

One of them seemed to be Hurley. I reckon the keeper was Clohessy.

**pineapple stu** · 23/04/2006, 7:03 PM

Hurley came on for Paul Byrne? James Hussey would have been the sub keeper - he's back from injury. I reckon Conan and either Billy Bob or Ciar�n Quinn would be most likely.

**Poor Student** · 23/04/2006, 7:05 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Hurley came on for Paul Byrne?

Ah, you're right. D'oh! Ehm, paper said Conon was injured. Billy Bob was probably there.

**higgins** · 23/04/2006, 9:55 PM

Not sure how you got 800 to 900 for that game ???

I dont know the ground as well as you do but it looked about 600 - 700 to me. People standing around the fence where only one deep if you know what I mean and there were a good few gaps behind the goal with the wall.

There could have only been about 200 ? around three sides of the ground and I dont see 600 in that stand of yours, actually what does it hold.

Very very poor crowd, not just for you guys now but for Shels too who didnt exactly have to travel too far. The saturday kick off might seem like a good idea but the advertising on the radio for the game was well behind all the other sport stories and even then some stations didnt mention it.

Have you informed people of the switch ??? There is normally over a 1000 there for a Friday night Shels fixture in the past.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 24/04/2006, 6:22 AM

Main AIB stand holds 800!

**pineapple stu** · 24/04/2006, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by higgins

Very very poor crowd, not just for you guys now but for Shels too who didnt exactly have to travel too far. The saturday kick off might seem like a good idea but the advertising on the radio for the game was well behind all the other sport stories and even then some stations didnt mention it.

Have you informed people of the switch ??? There is normally over a 1000 there for a Friday night Shels fixture in the past.

Actually, there's usually slightly under 1000 at UCD-Shels. It's our lowest Dublin derby crowd on average (have yet to play Dublin City...) The Chelsea-Liverpool game on at the same time would have had a big effect - look at what the Champions' League game did to Pat's v Bray...

**Schumi** · 24/04/2006, 1:27 PM

That's two weeks in a row we've played championship hopefuls who've been very ordinary looking and lost. How bad was the winner? I thought it pretty much went through Quigley's hands but it's mostly been reported that the bounce took it over him and there wasn't much he could do.

Originally Posted by Risteard

How did the two Judases get on?
Kearney play on the right wing?
Reckon he could do very well for Shels if he gives himself the chance to settle down.

Kearney looked dangerous enough in the second half. I didn't notice Cahill at all tbh.