pineapple stu
04/05/2004, 11:28 PM
UCD jumped straight to the top of their League Cup group after overcoming a Bray-ve challenge (sorry, I had to put that in! :D ) from the Seagulls in the Carlisle Grounds on Tuesday. A late Colm Kearins goal was enough to seal the points in what was a relatively lively encounter (by Bray v. UCD standards anyway...) between what was essentially two reserve teams.
College dominated the first half, and Chris O'Connor in the Bray goal had to be sharp to tip over a dipping Pat McWalter header. Lloyd Colfer also shot straight at O'Connor when well-placed, while Bray rarely threatened at the other end.
In the second half, the tables were reversed and Bray, playing with the wind now, were well on top, with only a fine performance from debutant Darren Quigley keeping them at bay. Quigley made a number of fine saves, including tipping away a deflected drive at the far post and a brilliant double save, the rebound from which was driven wide when it looked easier for Bray to score. For all that, though, there was the niggling feeling that Quigley was causing some of his own problems by choosing to parry rather than catch the ball at times.
When Quigley wasn't called into action, it was for fine defending from the centre-back pairing of Conor Kenna and Ciarán Foley, both making full debuts for the College. Foley in particular impressed with his ability to clean up attacks and get the ball calmly back to the keeper.
With only four minutes remaining, UCD broke for the only goal. Robbie Martin, on as a late sub, picked the ball up outside the area and laid off a lovely pass for Colm Kearins to run onto, and he held off his marker before blasting into the roof of the net from a narrow angle for a brilliant strike. There was no time for Bray to respond after that, and so College head into their tie against Shamrock Rovers at Belfield in two weeks knowing that a win will guarantee them a spot in the quarter-finals for only the third time in their history. Bray meet Shamrock Rovers in the other tie in the group next Monday.
UCD - Quigley; Sullivan (capt), Davey, Kenna, Foley; Burke (McNally), Kelly, Gaffney, McWalter; Colfer (Martin), Kearins
Att - c. 300
College dominated the first half, and Chris O'Connor in the Bray goal had to be sharp to tip over a dipping Pat McWalter header. Lloyd Colfer also shot straight at O'Connor when well-placed, while Bray rarely threatened at the other end.
In the second half, the tables were reversed and Bray, playing with the wind now, were well on top, with only a fine performance from debutant Darren Quigley keeping them at bay. Quigley made a number of fine saves, including tipping away a deflected drive at the far post and a brilliant double save, the rebound from which was driven wide when it looked easier for Bray to score. For all that, though, there was the niggling feeling that Quigley was causing some of his own problems by choosing to parry rather than catch the ball at times.
When Quigley wasn't called into action, it was for fine defending from the centre-back pairing of Conor Kenna and Ciarán Foley, both making full debuts for the College. Foley in particular impressed with his ability to clean up attacks and get the ball calmly back to the keeper.
With only four minutes remaining, UCD broke for the only goal. Robbie Martin, on as a late sub, picked the ball up outside the area and laid off a lovely pass for Colm Kearins to run onto, and he held off his marker before blasting into the roof of the net from a narrow angle for a brilliant strike. There was no time for Bray to respond after that, and so College head into their tie against Shamrock Rovers at Belfield in two weeks knowing that a win will guarantee them a spot in the quarter-finals for only the third time in their history. Bray meet Shamrock Rovers in the other tie in the group next Monday.
UCD - Quigley; Sullivan (capt), Davey, Kenna, Foley; Burke (McNally), Kelly, Gaffney, McWalter; Colfer (Martin), Kearins
Att - c. 300