UCD 2-2 Galway

[DmanDmythDledge]

Well that was a load of ******. Got off to a poor start (obviously). Kenna got caught out for the goal- was very slow to react to the through ball. That O'Brien fella has some pace though. Glynn was given too much space as well- had plenty of time too shoot.

After that we were the better team for the next 70 or so minutes. Doyle's goal was a well worked move and he was in the right place to slot it home- very good finish too. Fitzgerald's goal was very well struck- left the keeper no chance.

Second half we let the foot off the pedal a bit but still had chances to kill the game off- in particular Sammon showing that he's not the poacher that Paul Byrne is. Hynes was awful (showed a few good touches though)- Murphy looked lively when he came on- seems like he good be a direct replacement for Paul Byrne.

Last 10/15 minutes we sat back and let Galway come at us and we dealt with them comfortably, until the 94th minute when they scored with a looping header that should have been cleared, and saved. 2 points dropped definitely.:mad:

Finn was the only one of our players that stood out from the rest imo, motm without doubt. Hynes and Shorthall were the only poor performers and Doyle didn't do much apart from the goal.

[pineapple stu]

Shortall did OK, I thought. Certainly a lot better than Kenna at right back!

Really have to learn how to seal a match. We were so much better than Galway for long stretches that we may as well have been in a different division, but ultimately the record books will show that we only picked up a point. Very annoying... :mad:

Equaliser should have been cleared, but harsh to say it should have been saved.

Sammon was poor tonight - back to the usual bouncing off him after a great game on Monday. Should have had one at least. Hynes looked like a carbon copy of Sammo, but just more adept in the air, while Murphy had an energetic debut.

[pineapple stu]

For the fourth time this season, UCD dropped points with about the last kick of the game; this time in dropping two points to a Galway side who should have been out of sight as the final whistle approached.

The starting line up saw one enforced change from the side which drew with St Pat's - Tony McDonnell, with eigjht stitches in an eye wound, was replaced with Peter Hynes as Pete Mahon reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.

However, during the warm up, Alan Mahon picked up an injury which forced Mahon to name Brian Shortall in the team, pushing Conor Kenna out to right back.

The UCD defence took some time to get used to this change, which enabled Galway to take the lead. O'Brien went past Kenna with ease on the left wing and squared for Derek Glynn, whose first touch was untidy, but he had enough room for that not to matter, and he tucked home past Darren Quigley.

Two minutes later, Shortall conceded a free 20 yards out and near the centre of the goal; Fagan's free took a nice and Quigley had to be at his best to touch around the far post.

That, however, was as good as it got for Galway in the first half. UCD striggled to impose themselves early on, but with Kenna switching to centre back to be replaced at right back by Shortall, the Students started more and more to dominate proceedings.

On 26 minutes came the home side's first real chance - Conor Sammon turning in the area to fire into the corner, but the visiting keeper pulled off a superb save to his right. He was only postponing what even at that stage was appearing inevitable, and six minutes later UCD equalised. Shane Fitzgerald was played in on the right, and his cross across the face of goal evaded Peter Hynes but found Derek Doyle, who tucked home into the far corner for his seventh of the season.

And ten minutes later, it was 2-1. A pass from the Galway midfield took an unlucky deflection of the helpless referee, and set Derek Doyle away. He was tackled in the D, but the ball fell for Shane Fitzgerald to blast home his first goal for UCD from the edge of the area.

It was at this stage looking all too easy for UCD against an insipid Galway side, and the hosts really should have extended their advantage before the hour. First Conor Sammon was set free only for the Galway keeper to come out to the corner of the area to slide tackle clear, and then Sammon was again sent through, but this time, the ball bounced off his shin as he bore down on the exposed keeper. On 58 minutes, an Ian Bermingham cross found Doyle at the far post, and he went past one man before drilling in a shot just wide, while five minutes later, Sammon was clearly bundled over in the box as he chased a through ball, but no penalty was awarded.

As is their habit, however, the Students went to sleep after that, and chances were few and far between until the 80th minute, when Galway brought the best out of Darren Quigley; Glynn evading his marker long enough to power in a shot which Quiglay parried away. A scramble resulted from the ensuing corner, but again, the UCD defence got a body in the way to deflect over.

The game appeared to have finally turned in UCD's favour with the 84th minte introduction of Paul Murphy for his debut; within seconds, he had gotten free down the left and sent in a ball to the penalty spot, but Shane Fitzgerald's dinked lob was just over. And as the game entered injury time, a Fitzgerald cross was headed inches wide by Murphy.

Then came the final drama. Three minutes' injury time were already up when Paul Murphy was held trying to win a header 20 yards from goal. The referee saw fit for some reason to award a free out. This was directed towards Wes Charles - who had bizarrely replaced top scorer Derek Glynn moments earlier - and with UCD for once not clearing their lines, Stephen O'Flynn leaped highest to loop the rebound over Quigley's outstretched arm an dinto the net for a point United scarcely deserved.

UCD - Quigley; Kenna, Shortall, Bermingham, McNally; King, Finn, Fitzgerald, Doyle; Hynes (Murphy 84), Sammon. Subs not used - C Byrne, McFaul, Gregg.

[Gargamel]

we are the 0-0 specialists and the 2-2 specialist now especially at home

[CollegeTillIDie]

On a slightly positive note.... don't all die of shock, I think Brian King has done very well in his most recent stint in the first team.:ball:
But as regards the game itself defo two points dropped. pineapple stu kicked the souvenir hut just after the final whistle , which summed up the game perfectly.
P.S. Maybe now some of you will appreciate what Alan Mahon contributes, seeing as his absence was glaringly exposed in the first few minutes last night.

[Poor Student]

It's a game we should have finished on the basis of the play of most of the match but in the end we only scored one goal without the referee's assistance. Sammo's handling of that one on one was desperate.:o I think Hynes has potential if he can get fitter. He's strong, reasonably adept in the air, puts himself about and seems to be decent with the ball at his feet and has showed decent awareness. Well off the pace though. Murphy looked possibly promising in his fleeting appearance.

[pineapple stu]

Hynes seemed like a Sammon who can head the ball; held it up ok but didn't do much aside from that.

Murphy looked lively alright.

[Guitd]

dont know what game ucd fans on here wer watching galway at least deserved a point and prob should have had the game out of sight in the first 20 min .ucd wer allowed back into game which was played out evenly up to half time.second half was owned by galway with ucd relying on playing long balls forward to salmon which wer delt with by galway defence .the final 20 min if boxing match would have been stopped as galway continued to attack down both wings with obrien outstanding the equaliser deservely eventually arrived for galway in the 94th min

[Poor Student]

dont know what game ucd fans on here wer watching galway at least deserved a point and prob should have had the game out of sight in the first 20 min.

We weren't let back into the game like you put it. We swapped our emergency replacement right back as our defensive disarray was letting Galway get at us. Once we rectified the situation we were able to press on. One of each of our goals were fortuitous for different reasons.

[pineapple stu]

dont know what game ucd fans on here wer watching galway at least deserved a point and prob should have had the game out of sight in the first 20 min .ucd wer allowed back into game which was played out evenly up to half time.second half was owned by galway with ucd relying on playing long balls forward to salmon which wer delt with by galway defence .the final 20 min if boxing match would have been stopped as galway continued to attack down both wings with obrien outstanding the equaliser deservely eventually arrived for galway in the 94th min
POTM! :D

Never read such nonsense in my life.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Hynes seemed like a Sammon who can head the ball; held it up ok but didn't do much aside from that.
Nothing at all like Sammo.

[pineapple stu]

Do propound your theory.

[Claret Murph]

For the fourth time this season, UCD dropped points with about the last kick of the game; this time in dropping two points to a Galway side who should have been out of sight as the final whistle approached.

The starting line up saw one enforced change from the side which drew with St Pat's - Tony McDonnell, with eigjht stitches in an eye wound, was replaced with Peter Hynes as Pete Mahon reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.

However, during the warm up, Alan Mahon picked up an injury which forced Mahon to name Brian Shortall in the team, pushing Conor Kenna out to right back.

The UCD defence took some time to get used to this change, which enabled Galway to take the lead. O'Brien went past Kenna with ease on the left wing and squared for Derek Glynn, whose first touch was untidy, but he had enough room for that not to matter, and he tucked home past Darren Quigley.

Two minutes later, Shortall conceded a free 20 yards out and near the centre of the goal; Fagan's free took a nice and Quigley had to be at his best to touch around the far post.

That, however, was as good as it got for Galway in the first half. UCD striggled to impose themselves early on, but with Kenna switching to centre back to be replaced at right back by Shortall, the Students started more and more to dominate proceedings.

On 26 minutes came the home side's first real chance - Conor Sammon turning in the area to fire into the corner, but the visiting keeper pulled off a superb save to his right. He was only postponing what even at that stage was appearing inevitable, and six minutes later UCD equalised. Shane Fitzgerald was played in on the right, and his cross across the face of goal evaded Peter Hynes but found Derek Doyle, who tucked home into the far corner for his seventh of the season.

And ten minutes later, it was 2-1. A pass from the Galway midfield took an unlucky deflection of the helpless referee, and set Derek Doyle away. He was tackled in the D, but the ball fell for Shane Fitzgerald to blast home his first goal for UCD from the edge of the area.

It was at this stage looking all too easy for UCD against an insipid Galway side, and the hosts really should have extended their advantage before the hour. First Conor Sammon was set free only for the Galway keeper to come out to the corner of the area to slide tackle clear, and then Sammon was again sent through, but this time, the ball bounced off his shin as he bore down on the exposed keeper. On 58 minutes, an Ian Bermingham cross found Doyle at the far post, and he went past one man before drilling in a shot just wide, while five minutes later, Sammon was clearly bundled over in the box as he chased a through ball, but no penalty was awarded.

As is their habit, however, the Students went to sleep after that, and chances were few and far between until the 80th minute, when Galway brought the best out of Darren Quigley; Glynn evading his marker long enough to power in a shot which Quiglay parried away. A scramble resulted from the ensuing corner, but again, the UCD defence got a body in the way to deflect over.

The game appeared to have finally turned in UCD's favour with the 84th minte introduction of Paul Murphy for his debut; within seconds, he had gotten free down the left and sent in a ball to the penalty spot, but Shane Fitzgerald's dinked lob was just over. And as the game entered injury time, a Fitzgerald cross was headed inches wide by Murphy.

Then came the final drama. Three minutes' injury time were already up when Paul Murphy was held trying to win a header 20 yards from goal. The referee saw fit for some reason to award a free out. This was directed towards Wes Charles - who had bizarrely replaced top scorer Derek Glynn moments earlier - and with UCD for once not clearing their lines, Stephen O'Flynn leaped highest to loop the rebound over Quigley's outstretched arm an dinto the net for a point United scarcely deserved.

UCD - Quigley; Kenna, Shortall, Bermingham, McNally; King, Finn, Fitzgerald, Doyle; Hynes (Murphy 84), Sammon. Subs not used - C Byrne, McFaul, Gregg.

Thanks P. STU for the write up as It gave me a overall view of the game, the games that I do not attend I always read write ups on both sides and take it as somewhere in between :ball:

[DmanDmythDledge]

Do propound your theory.
Sammo's much faster, can finish, holds up the ball. Hynes hasn't shown that he can do any of those.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Sammo has not proven that he can finish. Penalties aside he's not been terribly prolific and I'd expect much more from a front man with as many starts as him.

In the brief glimpse we've had of Hynes so far all we've really been able to tell is that he has good awareness and is still well short of match fitness. Need a few more outings before we can assess him properly.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Due to the type of player Sammo is he spends a lot of time outside the box, which is why his goal column isn't a true reflection of his finishing.

BTW I'm not saying he would score all before him if otherwise.

[Angus]

Well, if nothing else we established that Conor Kenna is not a right full back.

Hugely disappointing result but patches of quality.

Positives:

Finn and King in the first half.
Fitzy's pace
Hynes liveliness
Quigs


Concerns

Finn and King went quiet in the second half
Fitzy's delivery
Our inability to convert chances

I presume Pete's thinking was that we needed a man marker on the left winger, O'Brien and therefore, our best defender should do it - unfortunately it took 15 minutes and a goal to change it around.

Finn was super in the first half, as was King. Encouraging to see McFaul back available. Murphy looks lively - are we convinced he looks match fit yet ? Sammo looked better for having Hynes with him - just a pity we could not convert the few chances in the second half.

Obviously lucky to be ahead with the Rick O'Shea off the ref. Overall GUFC probably did enough to get a draw but as Fulham and Reading experienced this weekend, you don't always get what you deserve and this is 2 points chucked away.

[John83]

Well, if nothing else we established that Conor Kenna is not a right full back.
I don't know about that. He was muck at left back when he started off, and he's played right back competently a couple of times before. We were saying during the game that it looked like he was still thinking like a centre half - maybe just got caught out with the late swap after Mahon got injured in the warm-up.

[pineapple stu]

Due to the type of player Sammo is he spends a lot of time outside the box, which is why his goal column isn't a true reflection of his finishing.
His finishing is generally poor - how many one on ones has he missed?

Hynes held the ball up well enough on Friday. Could head it too.

[Poor Student]

His finishing is generally poor - how many one on ones has he missed?

Unfortunately that one on one was a true reflection of his finishing. Many times he even fails to pull the trigger due to his awkward frame.

Hynes is hard to judge, he seems able to hold up the ball and lay it off and seems to be able to head but he still looks off the pace. Will Murph and Hynsie be cup tied in either or both cups I wonder?

Edit: Of course Hynes won't be able to play against Derry in the LC and Murphy played around 10 mins against us at Richmond.

[pineapple stu]

Must be said in his defence that when he doesn't have time to think about what he's doing, his finishing can be clinical enough. It's when he gets time, he seems to panic almost.

[DmanDmythDledge]

We were saying during the game that it looked like he was still thinking like a centre half - maybe just got caught out with the late swap after Mahon got injured in the warm-up.
I think he just got caught out ball watching and the winger got in behind him. The same thing could have easily happened if he was at centre back so nothing to do with swapping positions imo.


His finishing is generally poor - how many one on ones has he missed?


Must be said in his defence that when he doesn't have time to think about what he's doing, his finishing can be clinical enough. It's when he gets time, he seems to panic almost.
Which one is it?


Hynes held the ball up well enough on Friday. Could head it too.
I don't remember him holding up the ball. Anytime he had the ball at his feet he was moving.


Unfortunately that one on one was a true reflection of his finishing. Many times he even fails to pull the trigger due to his awkward frame.
Nothing to do with his finishing in this case, just poor decision making. It was very difficult to control the ball when running onto it that fast (I still think he should have got it under control though) and the best thing to have done was to hit it first time. Once it's on target and to the side of the keeper there's no chance of him saving it. Unfortunately his lack of experience in situations like that showed there- Paul Byrne would have taken that chance imo.

[John83]

I think he just got caught out ball watching and the winger got in behind him. The same thing could have easily happened if he was at centre back so nothing to do with swapping positions imo.
Except it doesn't happen to him at centre back. Ever.

[Aberdonian Stu]

And also the insertion of 'imo' into Dman's statement does not add anything to it. It is already clear that it is his opinion.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Except it doesn't happen to him at centre back. Ever.
He made a mistake. Get over it.

[John83]

He made a mistake. Get over it.
Not the point. It wasn't a single mistake - he was rubbish for fifteen minutes.

[pineapple stu]

Which one is it?
It can be both. He's clinical in that one isolated incident which we don't see very often. However, it doesn't take away from the general fact that his finishing is poor.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Not the point. It wasn't a single mistake - he was rubbish for fifteen minutes.
What other mistakes?


It can be both. He's clinical in that one isolated incident which we don't see very often. However, it doesn't take away from the general fact that his finishing is poor.
Your getting finishing and being clinical mixed up. I accept that he is not clinical but that is down to a lack of composure*, not being a poor finisher.

*He somehow transforms when taking penalties.;)

[pineapple stu]

Welcome to the realms of doublethink...

[Schumi]

What other mistakes?The left winger got past him easily again about 5 minutes after the goal. I don't like to be critical of Kenna as he's been brilliant all year (and for a few years now) but at right back on Friday, he didn't look comfortable at all.