UCD vs Cork

[DmanDmythDledge]

From IrishFootballOnline:

Cork City will be aiming to move second in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland on Monday night as they visit UCD at Belfield Park. Simply avoiding defeat will break the current points tie between Shamrock Rovers, Saint Patrick's Athletic and Cork for second place. However, a victory would move City to within eight points of leaders Drogheda United.

UCD appear reasonably safe from the relegation zone and although two of the four sides below them in the table won at the weekend, a draw with Bray Wanderers kept the Students in eighth place and twelve points clear of bottom side Longford Town.

Unbeaten and with five wins in their last seven games, Cork City top the Premier Division form table. Cork's schedule has seen them play a lot more home than away games recently but they have won their last two away games in the league. Their record away from home is only bettered by Drogheda and they will be aiming for a seventh away league win on Monday night. An interesting statistic has also seen Cork score more league goals away from home than at Turner's Cross.

UCD may have only won four home league games but they have also only lost four times at home in the league this season. UCD go into Monday night's game unbeaten in three games but they did lose heavily in Cork less than a month ago.

A 4-1 win for City in September brought an end to a run of low scoring games in the meetings between the sides. The previous five meetings between the clubs had produced just five goals in total since a 5-1 win for Cork at Belfield in July 2005.

Cork boss Damien Richardson expects his side to build on Friday's win, "It is imperative after a fine win on Friday night against Shamrock Rovers that we follow it up with a good performance and a good result. The expectation and desire must be there for us to achieve the three points which would lift us into second place."

UCD boss Pete Mahon has confirmed he will be shuffling his pack, "We're going to make a couple of changes to the side. We've had a lot of midweek fixtures with no chance to rest," said UCD manager Pete Mahon. We'll bring in a few players that haven't had as much of a chance [as others] to play in the first team."

Mahon has suggested the club's recent schedule hasn't helped his preparations, "Training has been limited, the sessions have been more about recovering than anything else. This is the form team in the league at the moment (Cork City) so this game will be a big test for us."

With his side virtually safe in the Premier Division and preparing for an FAI Cup semi-final (possibly against Cork City) at the end of the month, his reasoning is understandable but Cork will be still gunning for both European and Setanta football via a league route.

Kenna couldn't possibly be rested Interesting to see who plays. I'd say McFaul and McWalter will be rested, probably Sammo, maybe Quigley and Mahon.

[John83]

...I'd say McFaul and McWalter will be rested, probably Sammo, maybe Quigley and Mahon.

And this is why you still owe Kevin betting money.

[Angus]

Outplayed last night - I still say Cork are the best side we have seen this year, even without O'Donovan, O'Flynn last night.

We were decent in parts - Conan and Sammo pretty good - 2 boys in midfield solid.

A few other thoughts - we have scored in every league game since the debacle away to Longford.

Huge improvement in Sammo since then also - much livelier - much more effective and some top finishing - very impressive.

I also remain hugely impressed with the assembly line of players we are breaking through - we will probably lose a lot of them but some super talent coming through.

[John83]

Pats played far better football in the first round of games.

Sammo's improved, but Byrne was still an improvement when he came on. If only we could somehow mate him with Conor Kenna and breed a new super-striker, nigh invulnerable to injury.

[Sniffer]

Did any of you people take time out from abusing the ref last night to notice whether it was Richie Winter (who was rostered for the game),Dave McKeon (according to the Indo), Paul Tuite(RTE) or none of the above?

[DmanDmythDledge]

Conan Byrne named in eleven-a-side team of the week.

Did any of you people take time out from abusing the ref last night to notice whether it was Richie Winter (who was rostered for the game),Dave McKeon (according to the Indo), Paul Tuite(RTE) or none of the above?

He was bald if that's any help to you.

[pineapple stu]

Pat McWalter's first goal of the season was too late to spur UCD onto a share of the spoils against Cork City on Monday night, as the visitors held on for three points to keep alive their slim title hopes.
Pete Mahon made two changes from the team which had drawn with Bray - Tony McDonnell and Paul Byrne were replaced by Brian King and the returning Alan McNally.
Cork were the better side in a quiet first half, creating numerous half chances, although Darren Quigley in the UCD goal had yet to be fully tested when Cork took the lead around the half hour with the first move of real quality in the game. An excellent passing move saw Cork move the ball from the centre of the park out to the right, and Gareth Farrelly's cross to the near post was turned home by Colin O'Brien.
Five minutes later, it was 2-0 - Denis Behan taking everyone by surprise, Darren Quigley included, with a flick header from a tight angle which looped over Quigley and into the net.
However, it was a different matter in the second half as UCD finally got going - Conan Byrne had a header well saved before Conor Sammon stole a yard on his marker to get a clean run on goal, but he dragged his shot from the edge of the area wide.
The game was opening up more, and Cork could have gone 3-0 up when Leon McSweeney had a goal ruled out for an at best very narrow offside call, while at the other end, UCD were denied a clear penalty when a handball in the box went unpunished.
In the 81st minute came the goal which UCD's play in the half had deserved - Brian King sent in a deep cross which was met with a superb header from McWalter into the top corner.
As both sides pressed for a decisive goal, Cork twice had 3-on-2 scenarios, only for Kearney to blaze one over and Evan McMillan to superbly block a second. At the other end, substitute Paul Byrne was causing Cork plenty of headaches, while Conan Byrne and Conor Kenna both got in behind Neal Horgan only to find no-one on the end of their pull backs, and the Rebels were largely content to defend in numbers and hoof clear to gain space and time.
And time ultimately caught up with the home team as, despite a couple of penalty box scrambles, the final whistle went with the visitors still in the lead.
UCD - Quigley; Mahon, Bermingham (McMillan), Kenna, McNally; King, C Byrne, Finn; Sammon (P Byrne 70), McFaul, McWalter. Subs not used: Hynes, Bolger, Gregg
Att - 690

[Poor Student]

Sammo's improved, but Byrne was still an improvement when he came on. If only we could somehow mate him with Conor Kenna and breed a new super-striker, nigh invulnerable to injury.

I thought Paul Byrne changed the game somewhat. He won a fair amount in the and it gave us a new impetus up front. Sammon does seem to have improved a bit but his aerial prowess is much the same.

[Sniffer]

Conan Byrne named in eleven-a-side team of the week.


He was bald if that's any help to you.

Aaargghh, aren't Winter and Tuite both follicly challenged?

[CollegeTillIDie]

Re: attendance = 690
I hope we qualify for the Setanta Cup next season , play Linfield and have 1,690 at the game .....I'll get my coat

[DmanDmythDledge]

Aaargghh, aren't Winter and Tuite both follicly challenged?

Tuite is anyway. Dave McKeon was listed in the Times as the ref in the match report- he's bald too.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Tuite is anyway. Dave McKeon was listed in the Times as the ref in the match report- he's bald too.

It was Dave McKeon , I know him!