The gulf between the Premier Division and the First Division (or at least, their repsective second string teams) was shown up at Belfield Park tonight as UCD cruised to a League Cup victory over a very poor Dublin City side.
With first team training finishing just as the game kicked off, UCD made the expected 11 changes to the team which drew 0-0 with Shamrock Rovers on Friday. Damien Dupuy and Adrian Murphy were given the chance of some target shooting up front, while other expected faces - such as Neil Gallagher, Brian Gannon, Colm Kierans and Kieran Foley were introduced.
After six goals in their opening eleven league games, UCD badly needed to get a couple of goals under their belt; however, the opening quarter was reasonable well-balanced, with all the low-key nature of a typical League Cup encounter. Three minutes into the second quarter, however, the game had taken a significant turn in UCD's favour. First Damien Dupuy took a cross from the right on his chest and tried a shot on the turn; the Dublin City keeper parried, but only as far as Brian Gannon, who tucked home unchallenged.
A minute later, it was 2-0, with Brian Gannon scoring again; this time, turning home a cross with his back to goal. And a minute later again, it could easily have been 3-0 as Adrian Murphy ran with the ball past a static City defence only to see his shot from 15 yards smack off the post and back into the hands of the grateful Dublin City keeper.
UCD cruised through to half-time, although Neil Gallagher had something of a let off when he let a shot slip through his hands and roll along the goalline before he got down to smother. It mattered little, as UCD were 3-0 up shortly after the restart - Derek Doyle, who had been an unused sub last Friday, got free at the back post to tap home a Brian Gannon cross.
Dublin City did pull one back six minutes later - Pat Deans drilling a 20-yard free-kick under a suspect UCD wall. However, the result was never in doubr, particularly as Dublin City continued to set up UCD chances with a combination of lax defending and woeful passing. Adrian Murphy broke through only to see his shot well saved by the City keeper, the impressive Derek Doyle got room on the left but his pass to Murphy - twelve yards out in the centre of the box and completely unmarked - was just too heavy, while Murphy again broke through, saw his initial shot saved and just couldn't adjust quickly enough to turn the rebound home.
Dublin City had a couple of chances - Neil Gallagher pulled off a superb flying save from a header from six yards out, while Damien Kelly also had to clear off his own line late on, but there was never any doubt that UCD deserved to win and win comfortably. The result does set up next week's FAI Cup tie nicely - one would imagine after tonight's game that the respective first teams' meeting should see a similar result, but that's not always how football works...
In the other tie in Pool D of the League Cup, Shamrock Rovers overcame Bray Wanderers 3-0 in the Carlisle Grounds and join UCD, Kildare County and Shelbourne in the draw for the next, still regionalised, round. The winners of those ties will enter the open-draw quarter-finals.
UCD - Neil Gallagher; Damien Kelly, Aaron McEniff, Shane Long, Kieran Foley; Darren O'Brien, Brian Gannon, Colm Kierans, Derek Doyle; Damien Dupuy, Adrian Murphy. Subs used - John Brophy, Ryan Coyle, Ciarán Harte. Subs not used - Stephen Cashin, AN Other.
Att - 120
With first team training finishing just as the game kicked off, UCD made the expected 11 changes to the team which drew 0-0 with Shamrock Rovers on Friday. Damien Dupuy and Adrian Murphy were given the chance of some target shooting up front, while other expected faces - such as Neil Gallagher, Brian Gannon, Colm Kierans and Kieran Foley were introduced.
After six goals in their opening eleven league games, UCD badly needed to get a couple of goals under their belt; however, the opening quarter was reasonable well-balanced, with all the low-key nature of a typical League Cup encounter. Three minutes into the second quarter, however, the game had taken a significant turn in UCD's favour. First Damien Dupuy took a cross from the right on his chest and tried a shot on the turn; the Dublin City keeper parried, but only as far as Brian Gannon, who tucked home unchallenged.
A minute later, it was 2-0, with Brian Gannon scoring again; this time, turning home a cross with his back to goal. And a minute later again, it could easily have been 3-0 as Adrian Murphy ran with the ball past a static City defence only to see his shot from 15 yards smack off the post and back into the hands of the grateful Dublin City keeper.
UCD cruised through to half-time, although Neil Gallagher had something of a let off when he let a shot slip through his hands and roll along the goalline before he got down to smother. It mattered little, as UCD were 3-0 up shortly after the restart - Derek Doyle, who had been an unused sub last Friday, got free at the back post to tap home a Brian Gannon cross.
Dublin City did pull one back six minutes later - Pat Deans drilling a 20-yard free-kick under a suspect UCD wall. However, the result was never in doubr, particularly as Dublin City continued to set up UCD chances with a combination of lax defending and woeful passing. Adrian Murphy broke through only to see his shot well saved by the City keeper, the impressive Derek Doyle got room on the left but his pass to Murphy - twelve yards out in the centre of the box and completely unmarked - was just too heavy, while Murphy again broke through, saw his initial shot saved and just couldn't adjust quickly enough to turn the rebound home.
Dublin City had a couple of chances - Neil Gallagher pulled off a superb flying save from a header from six yards out, while Damien Kelly also had to clear off his own line late on, but there was never any doubt that UCD deserved to win and win comfortably. The result does set up next week's FAI Cup tie nicely - one would imagine after tonight's game that the respective first teams' meeting should see a similar result, but that's not always how football works...
In the other tie in Pool D of the League Cup, Shamrock Rovers overcame Bray Wanderers 3-0 in the Carlisle Grounds and join UCD, Kildare County and Shelbourne in the draw for the next, still regionalised, round. The winners of those ties will enter the open-draw quarter-finals.
UCD - Neil Gallagher; Damien Kelly, Aaron McEniff, Shane Long, Kieran Foley; Darren O'Brien, Brian Gannon, Colm Kierans, Derek Doyle; Damien Dupuy, Adrian Murphy. Subs used - John Brophy, Ryan Coyle, Ciarán Harte. Subs not used - Stephen Cashin, AN Other.
Att - 120
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