Waterford United 0 UCD 1

[CollegeTillIDie]

according to pineapple stu

"Comfortable 1-0 win without Gary Dicker, Alan McNally, and Tony McDonnell (my edit arguably our three best players from last season). Brian Shorthall scored, Alan Cawley was superb and Paul Byrne started. Red Card for Waterford too. About 950 there up to joint 5th now! [ 8th on goal difference]
New yellow kit on show too not bad; like the Liverpool jersey they won the Cup in. "

Three observations 1) Last year College barely attracted 400 Blues fans to the venue this years crowd was more than double that partially boosted by a busload of travelling College supporters. 2) minus last season's top three players we still managed a win
3) 270 minutes without a goal from an attacker :D.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Here is the report from today's Star in the absence of pineapple's usual one.

WATERFORD UNITED 0 UCD 1
UCD got their first points on the board and recorded their first win at the RSC in five years when they proved too strong for a lack-lustre Waterford United last night. After going within a whisker of scoring on several occasions, UCD finally opened their account during time added on in the first half.
Alan Cawley took a corner from the left and the ball was headed back across the goal by Paul Byrne before centre-half Brian Shortall headed home from close range. United's woes were compounded five minutes from time when Chris Deans was sent off for an off the ball foul on Conor Kenna.
Although United's performance improved, UCD's dominance continued after the restart. United were fortunate to survive a 23 minute goalmouth melee following a corner from the left by Cawley. Kenna made contact but although Fyffe saved on the ground, he couldn't hold possession and the ball bobbled dangerously about the penalty area before being booted away to safety.

U.C.D.:- Darren Quigley; Alan Mahon, Conor Kenna, Brian Shortall, Darragh Ryan; Alan Cawley, Stephen Hurley, Conan Byrne, Patrick McWalter; Conor Sammon, Paul Byrne SUBS USED:- Jimmy Lee Matthews for P.Byrne 79 minutes; Derek Doyle for C. Byrne 86 minutes

[pineapple stu]

Despite missing key players in Alan McNally, Tony McDonnell and Gary Dicker, UCD were full value for a first three points of the season in Waterford on Friday night. Brian Shortall's first goal for the club on the stroke of half-time earned the win, but there were plenty of chances to put further gloss on the scoreline.

Injuries to McNally, Dicker and Ciarán Quinn meant Pete Mahon had to shuffle his side from the one which had lost both their opening games without scoring. Shortall was a direct replacement for McNally and Conor Sammon replaced Quinn. Conan Byrne was dropped back to centre-mid in Dicker's place, which allowed Paul Byrne in to make his first appearance after almost a year out injured.

It was Byrne who almost opened the scoring for UCD within two minutes, when he was sent clear but, perhaps lacking match sharpness, he shot straight at Jimmy Fyffe in the Waterford goal. The tone of the game had been set, however, with Alan Cawley in particular sending in numerous teasing crosses and corners which had the Waterford defence in trouble on several occasions. 20 minutes in, one of those crosses was scrambled away for a corner; another scramble resulted with Waterford eventaully clearing off their line only for the ball to come back with interest as Pat McWalter's 25-yard drive was only inches off target.

Waterford's best chance of the half came from another UCD corner. As the Blues cleared out to their left-back slot, UCD's left-back Darragh Ryan came charging out to intercept; he was beaten to the ball but Waterford could make nothing of their resulting dangerous attack with a man over on UCD's left-hand-side.

In first-half injury time, UCD got the break they deserved, and it was no surprise that an Alan Cawley delivery was central. A corner from the right was headed back across goal by Paul Byrne, and Brian Shortall was on hand to nod home from close range, much to his evident delight.

The second-half started in the same vein as the first had ended, with Cawley again tormenting the Waterford defence; how Shortall or Conor Kenna failed to make more of two more tantalising crosses is anyone's guess. And as Waterford gradually got back into the game, the possibility of the Students ruing those missed opportunities grew. However, Waterford rarely seriously threatened Darren Quigley's goal, and their cause wasn't helped by a silly red card for Chris Deans five minutes from time. As the players jostled in the box for a Waterford free-kick, Conor Kenna went down, evidently struck by an elbow. The linesman flagged instantly and, after a brief consultation, the ref showed a red card to Deans.

Two minutes later came Waterford's best chance. Conor Kenna - who earlier had sliced a corner clearance almost into his own net - tackled his man inside the box as Quigley came out to collect, but the clearance struck the Waterford forward on the shin and, with Quigley beaten all ends up, looped just over the bar.

At the other end, Pat McWalter could have added a second in injury time. Conor Sammon's superb run along the by-line ended with him cutting the ball back to McWalter, 12 yards out, but his shot was blocked superbly by the Waterford defence.

UCD held on comfortably enough for the win, which lifts them up to joint 5th in the league table (8th on goal difference), and gives them the reassurance of the first points on the board. Next up is a likely far tougher challenge as reigning champions Cork City travel to Belfield on Friday evening.

UCD - Quigley; Mahon, Ryan, Kenna, Shortall; Hurley, Cawley, C Byrne (Doyle 86), McWalter; P Byrne (Matthews 75), Sammon. Subs not used - Clohessey, Dicker, Harte.

Att - c 950.

[pineapple stu]

Thread on the Waterford forum (http://www.btid.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=93) about the match.