Drogheda United ground out their seventh 1-0 win of the season to put them four points clear at the top of the Premier Division. The result was harsh on UCD, though, who me most of the running and who deserved a draw at least.
UCD made three changes from the team which won 4-1 over Bray - two of which were forced after injuries to both central defenders, Conor Kenna and Alan McNally. In their places came Brian Shortall and Tony McDonnell, while Gary Dicker was restored to the midfield in place of Conan Byrne.
UCD started much the better, and took five minutes to register the first decent shot on target, but Dan Connor held Alan Cawley's 20-yard snapshot. Five minutes later, Conor Sammon arrived on the end of a low cross into the box, but his touch let him down and the ball ran out for a goal-kick.
It took half an hour for Drogheda to produce anything of note, but when they did, it required a superb save from Darren Quigley to turn away Sami Riistila's powerful drive from outside the box. UCD went straight up the pitch and could have scored themselves - Paul Byrne beat the advancing Dan Connor to a Darragh Ryan cross, but his header bounced agonisingly wide of the empty net. And ten minutes later, Connor had to be sharp when Conor Sammon broke through - the goalkeeper came to his side's rescue with a sliding tackle at the expense of a corner.
Two minutes into the second half, however, Drogheda took the lead rather against the run of play. James Keddy found spaec to get a cross in from the left, and Shane Bradley took advantage of a defensive slip to blast into the top corner from ten yards with Quigley exposed.
After that, Drogheda were happy to put ten men behind the ball and try and hit UCD on the counter, which almost brought a result for them with a 25-yard drive which flew just over Quigley's goal. As UCD pressed forward for the equaliser, Glen Fitxpatrick got in behind the defence, but his shot was dragged badly wide.
In the dying minutes, Tony McDonnell had a great chance in a scramble at a corner, but Drogheda managed to deflect the ball away, while in injury-time, Derek Doyle saw his cross from out on the left wing come off the bar, with Dan Connor somehow stopping Conor Sammon from poking home the rebound.
UCD - Quigley; Mahon, Ryan, Shortall, McDonnell; Hurley (Matthews 78), Cawley (Doyle 78), Dicker, McWalter; P Byrne (C Byrne 78), Sammon. Subs not used - Hussey, Quinn
Well, we outplayed Drogheda but that was partly due to the Doolinaccio tactic of sitting back once they took a lead. Drogs defended solidly for the main part and you can see why they have yet to concede a goal. I think we definitely deserved a point and we were unlucky not to get something out of Doyle's effort (or misplaced cross?) and the subsequent confusion in the box. I was pleased with the performance in the main but it was sloppy defending for their goal and we looked bluntish up front again (but then again this is the best defence in the country). If we can play this well then we will pick up enough wins to be comfortable. Tony Mac was solid enough in defence but we need Kenna and McNally back and we need the big Mac back in the centre. Hurley is getting better, he seems to have a touch of the Gary Dicker twisting and turning about him now which has let him escape a few tough spots. I thought Daz Ryan had a decent game too. No real mistakes and got forward to good effect. I'm looking forward to taking on Shels.
Daz didn't make any mistakes because Drogheda didn't bother to attack for the most part! Some of the papers say it was his cross that hit the bar in injury time. He put in a couple of other good crosses too - the one for Paul Byrne's chance springs to mind.
Things are really looking good for the rest of the season. Confident of beating Shels giving their current form but they could be overdue a good performance. Agree with you PS that Tony Mc should be centre mid- one of the best in the league there.
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