UCD overcame a stubborn challenge from Kilkenny City to book their place in the third round of the FAI Cup on Saturday. Despite being on the better team for a good portion of the game, it needed a late goal from Pat McWalter to finish off Kilkenny's resistance.
There was just the one change from the defeat to Dublin City on Monday - Brian Shortall, injured in that game, was replaced by Alan Cawley, with Tony McDonnell dropping back to central defence. Before the first half was out, however, Conor Kenna was replaced by Jimmy Lee Matthews, while Darren Quigley also necessitated a period of treatment on his injured foot. Kenna went over on his ankle and is likely to miss this Friday's televised visit of Derry City, but may return for the first game after the mid-season break.
The game began slowly , and it was 20 minutes before the first real chance, when Kilkenny managed to clear their lines following a goalmouth scramble. However, UCD stepped up the pace after that, and Conor Sammon and Tony McDonnell were both inches wide from opening the scoring, as was a Kilkenny defender who nodded just past his own post.
On 33 minutes came the breakthrough. Conor Sammon was adjudged to have been fouled from behind as he received a pass in the penalty area, and Alan Cawley struck the resultant penalty high into the top right corner to leave the Kilkenny keeper with no chance. Five minutes later, it could have been 2-0, but a good first-time shot from Darragh Ryan was just about blocked away by the Cats' defence.
As the game approached half-time, Gary Dicker - instrumental in much of College's play - set up the move of the match with a superb backheel to take three Kilkenny players out of the game and set Pat McWalter on a 50-yard run down the pitch, which only ended after a superb tackle from a Kilkenny defender inside his own box.
Kilkenny came out much improved in the second half, and had a couple of decent chances to equalise, most noticeably when hesitation in the UCD defence allowed a Kilkenny player in to shoot from close range; Quigley pulled off a superb save, and the Cats somehow managed to put the rebound wide from four yards out from an open goal.
It wasn't all one-way traffic, and Gary Dicker saw his shot from the edge of the area thwarted through a superb block from a home defender before the game swung decisively in UCD's favour a quarter of an hour from time with the dismissal of Kilkenny's left-back for two yellow cards, the second arising when Gary Dicker was fouled by three players at once as he broke towards the Kilkenny area. The win was sealed five minutes from time when Conor Sammon - named man of the match - found Pat McWalter in space in the box, and he had time to pick his spot in the far corner of the net to make it 2-0.
There was a scare right at the end when Darren Quigley had to make another superb point-blank save after failing to collect a deep free-kick, but it was UCD who finished the stronger when Darragh Ryan's drive from 12 yards was deflected just over the bar when it looked to be heading into the top corner.
All in all, not a vintage UCD performance, but enough done to ensure passage to Round Three. All eyes now turn to Belfield Park on Friday night for the live game against title challengers Derry City as the second round of league games gets underway.
UCD - Quigley; Mahon, Kenna (Matthews 30), McDonnell, McNally; Cawley, Dicker, McWalter (Quinn 88), Ryan; Byrne (Hurley 75), Sammon. Subs not used - Hussey, Doyle
Att - 130
I'm still not happy with our style of play. Playing for 1-0 wins is not the way to go. I was talking to one of the UCD coaches and the way he was talking Mahon is the only one who agrees with this style of play. It may work against the likes of Kilkenny but we're in the Premier.
I missed Dazza's wave.
Not really sure how Sammon got man of the match. That said no one was really deserving.
Sunday Times FAI Cup roundup column doesn't even mention the game!
D1ckheads.
"I always likened him to a Rolls Royce. You just used him once a week & he'd be flawless"
Townsend on McGrath
I'm still pi$$ed off that the Kilkenny keeper didn't accept my €50 bribe to lose 3-0.
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
Not only that Schumi given we had around 50 travelling supporters at the game the locals didn't seem that interested. Hardly surprising as many of their supporters seemed to be relatives of their many Dublin based playersOriginally Posted by Schumi
Tenth successive season through past the first hurdle, incidentally. But every one of those seasons, we've been out in the quarters at the latest.
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