Drogheda 2-3 UCD

[DmanDmythDledge]

Tony Mc is injured so Gallagher will start LB with Kenna CB. If Drogheda use Cahill to exploit Mahon they could score, other than that it has 0-0 written all over it.

[Schumi]

If Drogheda use Cahill to exploit Mahon they could scoreSssh. You never know who might be reading this. I reckon a 1-0 win, Doyle to score.*



*Watch as he turns out to be suspended or something. :rolleyes:

[Poor Student]

Tony Mc is injured so Gallagher will start LB with Kenna CB. If Drogheda use Cahill to exploit Mahon they could score, other than that it has 0-0 written all over it.

What kind of odds are to be gotten on a 0-0?

Seeming as Tony Mac would only be playing centre half and that pushes Kenna out to full back, I don't think he will be missed too badly (forgive my blasphemy).

[John83]

Paddy Power gives Drogheda 1-2, Draw 5-2, UCD 5-1. I like 5-2 on a the draw.

Drogheda are probably going to be missing Gray, but that's it.

[DmanDmythDledge]

I like 5-2 on a the draw.
6-1 for 0-0!:eek: (was 15-2 yesterday:mad: )

Seeming as Tony Mac would only be playing centre half and that pushes Kenna out to full back, I don't think he will be missed too badly (forgive my blasphemy).
He won't be missed to badly but we will be weakened juts a bit without him.

[jonboy]

is oprea not in the squad?????

[DmanDmythDledge]

is oprea not in the squad?????
I don't know if he has got international clearance in time to play. He would be in it if he has. Where did you hear that he wasn't in the squad?

[pineapple stu]

A stirring comeback from UCD wasn't enough to seal a share of the points in United Park tonight as some slack defending helped Drogheda edge a five-goal tie.

UCD made two changes - Cillian Gallagher came in for the injured Tony McDonnell, while Brian King replaced Paul Byrne, with UCD reverting to a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Ronan Finn playing behind Conor Sammon. UCD, playing in their new black away shirts with a sky bue trim, edged the opening and had the first real chance when Ronan Finn played a superb pass through to Conor Sammon, but he was excellently tackled as he was about to shoot. From the resulting corner, a scramble ensued before Derek Doyle rammed home from close in.

UCD continued to make the early running - Ronan Finn sent an audacious lob onto the roof of the net from the touchline, while he was also sent free by a long Alan Mahon throw, but he just failed to connect.

Drogheda came back into things, however, and equalised on the half hour. A speculative 30-yard shot was parried by Darren Quigley, probably mindful of the wet weather, and the UCD defence failed to clear adequately. Ollie Cahill sent in a low cross, Paul Keegan scuffed his shot, but Darren O'Brien reacted first to turn the ball in from six yards.

There was nearly an action replay a few minutes later as another speculative shot was turned wide by Quigley. His opposite number was having similar problems, however, as hesitation in the Drogheda defence from an Alan Mahon floated free caused panic, and Dan Connor was forced into an unorthodox punch clear, but the UCD attack were unable to capitalise.

UCD had a good chance to retake the lead early in the second half when Ronan Finn was played through, but Connor was out of his area to execute a sharp sliding tackle, somehow winning a free out in the process.

However, Drogheda did take the lead in typical form - direct from a counter. Drogheda broke from a UCD corner, found Glen Fitzpatrick just inside the UCD area, and he came forward to the edge of the box before lobbing the advancing Darren Quigley.

UCD had chances to equalise - hesitation again in the Drogheda defence almost let a Conan Byrne low cross from the corner of the area squirm in, but substitute Éamon Zayed sealed the points when played in on the right of the UCD box and slotting home past Quigley.

Pete Mahon repsonded with two subs - Bogdan Opera and Timmy Purcell for Shane McFaul and Cillian Gallagher. And the sub changed UCD's fortunes, as Opera in particular showed audacity on the ball to cause Drogheda's defence plenty of problems. And he scored a debut goal to haul UCD right back into it when Dan Connor could only parry Conor Sammon's header from an excellent Conan Byrne cross, and Bogdan tapped home the rebound frmo three yards.

It was almost all UCD after that, and there was almost a sensational equaliser when Opera won a corner after going past three Drogs defenders. UCD keeper Darren Quigley came up for the corner, and almost connected with a diving header. Ronan Finn drilled wide from the edge of the box from the rebound, which was to prove the last chance of the game as Drogheda held on for all theee points.

Overall, an encouraging performance as UCD did at least show plenty up front, and if they can sort their usually solid defence out, they can cause Cork City plenty of problems in Belfield next week.

UCD - Quigley; Mahon, Gallagher (Purcell 70), Kenna, McNally; McFaul (Opera 70), Doyle, C Byrne, Finn, King (Crowley 85); Sammon.

Subs not used - Gregg, McMillian

Att - c 1300

[CollegeTillIDie]

Lads

Hasn't it dawned on anyone that we lose almost every time Tony Mc misses a game?

[Schumi]

I reckon a 1-0 win, Doyle to score.*



*Watch as he turns out to be suspended or something. :rolleyes:It was looking good for a while!

[CollegeTillIDie]

It was looking good for a while!

Listened to the commentary from the LMFM reporter. He said we were the better side overall in the first half up to their equaliser.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, pretty much what we were saying at the time.

Drogs were better for much of the next forty minutes though (without ever being great themselves), and we dominated the last ten.

[Poor Student]

Bald Student or Student Mullet was pointing out to me that he thinks we'll concede more and score more this year. I agree with him, this UCD team seems to be a lot more cavalier. The midfield seems a bit looser but more mobile getting forward. I'd rather see Tony Mac (when fit) in the centre to offer a steadying experienced influence and bit more spine.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Well if we concede more than last year we could be in trouble given that historically we never score that many....

[Schumi]

And if we score more than last year, we'll be well set given that historically we never concede too many. :D

[pineapple stu]

And we've got Bogdan this year too. :)

[DmanDmythDledge]

good to see Finn play in his best postion. he will be a better partner for the legend sammo upfront as finn's quality will be able to give him ball to feet. how was king?
And we've got Bogdan this year too. :)
nice to see the hero himself make his official debut. even better that he lived up to my hype:) he will be one of our best players this season. what position did he come on?

[pineapple stu]

Dunno actually. We started with 4-4-1-1, with Finn behind Sammon. The swao was Purcell and Bogdan for Gallagher and McFaul - two forwards/wingers for a full back and a centre mid. Never really worked out which way that worked in the end. He spent most of his time on the left wing or up front.

King played very well. Very solid, good hard tackler.

[DmanDmythDledge]

how many went on the bus?

[Poor Student]

Opera was out widish towards the left. I'm not sure if we went 3 up front.

There was only 6 on the bus and Colie drove down.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Did we only have 7 fans there? I wasn't able to go had to visit my Dad in hospital.

[Poor Student]

Did we only have 7 fans there? I wasn't able to go had to visit my Dad in hospital.

Excluding the likes of Dillon, Sherro and family, 7 was all I could see. An unusually low crowd for Drogs away, we had more in Cork last year. As usual we started out with prospects of decent numbers but as the game approached that number twindled.

[TheBoss]

Any UCD Bookings in the game.

[pineapple stu]

Alan Mahon.

[TheBoss]

Alan Mahon.

Thanks, you do not know the minute, do you ?

Also, Can you remember any from the Rovers game.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Also, Can you remember any from the Rovers game.
There were no bookings against Rovers.

[pineapple stu]

57th minute.

[TheBoss]

Cheers lads, gratefully recieved.

Would you be able to put bookings at the end of reports with the team line-ups in future ?

[CollegeTillIDie]

The Boss

There were no bookings against Shamrock Rovers... we are the Fair Play Trophy winners from last season you know :D