Really good performance. I thought Doyle did alright at LB. Tony Mc going off injured is a worry though. Derek Doyle had a very good game I thought, as did Dicker and Kenna.
Bray were absolute pants. I feel sorry for Bray fans at the moment.
Last edited by DmanDmythDledge; 06/10/2006 at 9:49 PM.
I don't think anyone set a foot wrong tonight. Bray are bad but what can you do? The lads played some nice stuff given the adverse weather conditions. I also thought Kavanagh was very industrious down the right and Finn puts in an immense effort too. Sammo's first touch let him down tonight. Between him and Dicker's shot that hit the bar we could have had a few more. The goal difference is nearly back level though!
UCD moved up to seventh in the table with a comprehensive 4-0 crushing of Bray Wanderers in Belfield Park on Friday night. The win equals UCD's biggest home Premier Division win since 1996, was fuly deserved against a Bray side almost resigned to life in the First Division next year.
WIth Podge McWalter ruled out for the season, Pat Kavanagh came in for his second start on the right wing, while Ronan Finn deposed Paul Byrne as UCD went back to a 4-4-1-1 formation.
The game was very open, and it was Bray who should have taken the lead after just four minutes when they broke through the Students' defence only for Georgescu to shoot straight at Quigley. A minute later, UCD returned the favour, with Sammon breaking through only to shoot straight at O'Connor. The rebound came back to Gary Dicker, but he was tackled at the expense of a corne. From this, Tony McDonnell headed just wide.
A few minutes later, however, UCD had the lead. Gary Dicker burst through two Bray defenders on the edge of the area, only to be sandwiched and win a free kick. Alan Mahon floated it in, and Dicker was on hand to head home into the far corner.
Two muntes later, Darren Quigley made an audacious attempt at extending the Students' lead, but his wind-assisted free kick from inside the Bray half was well off target. UCD shouldhave moved further ahead after a blunder from Bray keeper O'Connor, but after he fumbled a Derek Doyle cross, Pat Kavanagh blazed over.
Bray's best chance of the half came five minutes from hte break, when their number 7 controlled a poor Quigley goal kick and sent a shot back towards the Ireland U-21 keeper, but the shot was marginally off target. The miss was to be regretted as UCD took control of the game two minutes later - Kavanagh burst down the wing, and his low cross was flicked out by Gary Dicker straight into the path of Alan McNally, whose reflex first-time shot easily found the far corner of the net with the Bray keeper stranded.
Still there was time for UCD to attack, as after Bray shot wide, Keith Doyle tried his luck from 30 yards; O'Connor saved but, thinking he was going over the line, he dropped the ball and only just beat Conor Sammon back to it.
The second half was more of the same, and on 58 minutes, UCD went further ahead. Bray's defending was non-existent as another Alan Mahon free was met by Dicker, who was allowed the freedom of Belfield to nod home from ten yards. Conor Sammon had a chance for four, but after breaking through the Bray defence, his touch and the bobble of the pitch let him down and the keeper was out to save.
It was only postponing the inevitable, however, and on 70 minutes, it was 4-0. Gary Dicker started the move on the right, he played out to Pat Kavanagh, whose low cross was spilled by the keeper to allow Derek Doyle an easy tap home. And Doyle could have made it 5-0 late on when his shot from 30 yards was parried into the air by O'Connor and bounced onto the bar and away for a corner.
All in all, a very comfortable win against a poor Bray side. Togher tests lie ahead, beginning next week against a Drogheda side looking to recover from a 3-0 defeat against St Pat's tonight. Sixth place and the top half of the league is still the target for Pete Mahon's charges; tonight wil certainly have helped them on their way.
UCD - Quigley; Mahon, K Doyle, Kenna, McNally; McDonnell (Crowley 77), Kavanagh, Dicker, D Doyle (P Byrne 88); Finn (C Byrne 90); Sammon
Att - 410
By the way, Keith Doyle looks like a good signing. I know he did crap at Rovers but he was a player who was supposed to have held great potential. Belfield is a place where players can regain confidence and form without the pressure of bigger clubs so hopefully he can work well for us. Left back has been such a problematic area. I wondered had Mahon signed him as a squad player or intended to use him to improve the first team. The way he has thrown him right in as soon as he got back from injury suggests he sees him as part of his team building plans. It also allows Kenna and McNally to play back together in the centre. No disrespect to Shorthall, who is a reliable player, but that's one of the best defensive pairings in the league.
Ran into Ronan Finns auld fella after the match & he was saying that Cambridge Utd didn't want to let him go. We've done well getting him on board. He's gonna play for Ireland. Could probably play for them now the way things are.
"I always likened him to a Rolls Royce. You just used him once a week & he'd be flawless"
Townsend on McGrath
We should put one of those bets down like Kevin Doyle and Chris Kirkland's aul fellas did where you get odds of say 100/1 that they'll appear for the national team in the next ten years.Originally Posted by Colie
I have to say I have been impressed with Keith Doyle and Paul Crowley and I hope we can hang on to them as well as the best of our senior players for next season.
Nah, he's too good for that rabble.
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
Thats a brilliant idea. I'll have a piece of that. Anything to make up that fuching €100 I lost on Ireland.
"I always likened him to a Rolls Royce. You just used him once a week & he'd be flawless"
Townsend on McGrath
How do you actually place a bet like that? Do you stroll into the bookies and just say it?
We were just so so poor, but what's new ? I'm actually kind of happy we got tonked again because it's another naill in Gormley's coffin, the man is not good for our club, so in a way you helped us ! ;-)
Always happy to help.
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
In light of the Cork result and improved performance... do you want to revisit this posting?
No not at all, 1 half decent result does not make up for the rest of our season.
Yes I suppose, after last night's result I see what you mean.
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