Bad result for the College... UCD 1-1 Limerick

[Poor Student]

0-0 with Monaghan now 1-1 with Limerick. These should have been bankers! I thought when Hughes scored that the floodgates might open but we let Limerick back into it. We maintained the pressure in the 2nd half but weren't clinical enough. I can see now why Doyle has been dropped. I don't understand why he took Hughes off. Mahon hit an awfully mistimed tackle on a Limerick player. Limerick also managed to waste a lot of time. Very frustrating match. Unless Bray beat Harps I reckon the title is gone. :(

[pineapple stu]

I know I was asked by a few at the game not to bother with this report, but sure here goes...

UCD went back to the top of the First Division after a 1-1 draw with Limerick in Belfield Park on Friday, but that was one of the few positives to take from a frustrating evening at the office. Despite having the lion's share of possession, UCD failed to break down a resolute Limerick side, whose players were evidently delighted with sealing a result in Belfield.

The game was in doubt until an hour or so due to kick off, due mainly to the lashing rain - the referee was bouncing balls in the penalty area beforehand - and also partly because the Limerick team were apparently stuck in traffic somewhere outside Monasterevin. As it was, the team arrived a good hour and a bit before kick-off, and the pitch was adjudged playable (it's apparently nearly ten years since a match was last postponed at Belfield).

When the match did get underway, UCD made the early headway and had a couple of danerous crosses dealt none-too-convincingly by the Limerick defence. And after only ten minutes, everything looked to be going according to the book when Philly Hughes beat the Limerick offside trap to run onto a through ball. He still had plenty of work to do, running 40 yards before slotting home past the keeper, who got a touch but couldn't keep the ball out. In any case, Robbie Martin was free in the area had Hughes wished to use him.

After that, it seemed, UCD settled back for the deluge. Which never came. And 13 minutes later, Limerick were back on terms courtesy of a brilliant goal from Conor Molan, who picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and slammed a shot in off the underside of the bar for which Quigley didn't even move.

The rest of the half passed fairly uneventfully (as did half-time, as the half-time match was called off to avoid further damage to the pitch), but in the second half, UCD came out all guns blazing. However, Limerick appeared a much better team than in the previous two encounters and had plenty of bodies back to deny the College. Pete Mahon even made two changes around the hour mark - most unlike him! - with Willie Doyle and Seán Finn being introduced to try and get the lead goal. Finn was soon characteristically in the action, with his drive from 25 yards being tipped acrobatically wide, while another low shot was turned around the post by the scrambling Fyffe in goal.

Although most of the second half was in the Limerick half - UCD forced at least ten corners in the period, if not more, though many were poor - the Lims had possibly the best scoring chances when they broke through the defence twice in five minutes. On both occasions, Darren Quigley saved well, although his failure to hold the first shot led to Alan McNally having to clear hastily for a corner.

Back down the other end, and UCD had half-chance after half-chance without ever getting a clear sight of goal. Robbie Martin played a couple of nice lay-offs in the area, but a Limerick jersey was always in first to clear, while on one occasion a lovely backheel was also read by the opposition defence. As the game wore on, UCD threw everything forward - even Alan Mahon for some reason - and Limerick became more dangerous on the counter, although ultimately they barely registered another shot on target. Five minutes of injury time failed to produce a goal, though it saw another two or three efforts, and Limerick escaped with a point. For those who have been at other games this season, think the Cobh home game when we battered them for the second half and yet somehow failed to win.

So, once again, we have done the bare minimum to go back top of the league. All eyes turn to Ballybofey tomorrow night - a win for Bray will leave all three teams tied on 63 points, with Bray ahead on goal difference. With four games to go, UCD still have the easier run-in, but will their inability to put away teams like Limerick, Cobh, Monaghan and Kilkenny come back to haunt them?

UCD - Quigley; Mahon, McAuley, Kenna, McNally; McDonnell, Sullivan (O'Donnell), Murphy, McWalter (Doyle); Hughes (Finn), Martin

Att - 175

[Poor Student]

How do you rate Batman? I've only seen him in the last three home games but I've thought he looks very sharp. Seems to have good pace and good at holding the line to beat the offside trap. Looks reasonably strong and has a good turn and seems to be finding the net. Did I miss something or should he have been left on instead of Doyle?

[jagman]

Wot do you mean you can see why doyle was dropped, i cant he was playing well got injured and was left out and now hes well short of match sharpness had he been played he would still be outright top scorer in the league.

[Poor Student]

Well I asked before was it due to fitness, but Stu said he was dropped due to form. He did start three games in a row after coming back from injury against Drogheda twice and Athlone but was dropped for the Harps game and hasn't started since. I know he's lost his sharpness since the injury but we can't afford to let him graduate back to full fitness when we are in such a tight title race. Yesterday he seemed to me to offer less than Hughes and his play looked a little sloppy. Not taking a dig at the lad, he's been tremendous up until the injury but his last goal was in July and he hasn't scored ina good 400 mins of football.

[jagman]

He missed the 2 games before the drumcondra game while he was waiting to see a specialist i believe, he was then given the all clear before the drums game but was rested for some strange reason this would have been the ideal game to regain his fitness,he hasnt had the chance since.

[pineapple stu]

Mahon seems to be one of those managers who doesn't put players straight back into the first team after a spell out injured or suspended - Micko returned from suspension last night but was only on the bench as well. I suppose it has its merits - hard to drop anyone from the team when we haven't lost in the league in three months. That said, I'd love to see how many goals Doyle could have had had he gone back into the team after the injury. Mahon also doesn't make many subs when we're winning, which is a problem for Doyle.

[pineapple stu]

How do you rate Batman? ... Did I miss something or should he have been left on instead of Doyle?

Doyle replaced Batman last night - maybe you mean Robbie Martin?

Batman's done fairly well I think - he creates a fair bit and looks like a good foil for Martin or Doyle scavenging up front.

[Poor Student]

Doyle replaced Batman last night - maybe you mean Robbie Martin?

Batman's done fairly well I think - he creates a fair bit and looks like a good foil for Martin or Doyle scavenging up front.

Sorry, maybe I was a bit confusing I meant should Hughes not have been left on the field instead of putting on Doyle? I felt Hughes was doing fine and Doyle was not sharp when he came on. But I'm not criticising Mahon. Couting in his stint last term and this term coupled with the cup performances we have been doing brilliant and considering the situation he inherited. So who can argue with how he does things?