Greedy Derry continue sick obsession with League Cup

[Poor Student]

Only joking. Fair play to Derry. Congrats. Too shattered to analyse the game not that I absorbed it as normal.

[crc]

wahey! I just found out 5 mins ago (I was away from the office). I'd like to have seen UCD in the Setanta Cup, and if you'd been playing any other team I'd have wanted you to win!

[Poor Student]

wahey! I just found out 5 mins ago (I was away from the office). I'd like to have seen UCD in the Setanta Cup, and if you'd been playing any other team I'd have wanted you to win!

We still can, FAI Cup!

[crc]

erm... but we want that too!

[Poor Student]

erm... but we want that too!

It's our turn, fair is fair.

[pineapple stu]

Full report to follow when I watch the video, but for now...

Derry City sealed a deserved - and record - sixth League Cup with a 2-1 victory over UCD in Belfield Park tonight. In reality, given the visitors' possession, the result flattered UCD, although in the end, it needed an own goal in first half injury time to confirm the Candystripes' win.

With neither Robbie Martin nor Conor Kenna fully fit, manager Pete Mahon went with the same team which had beaten Bray at the weekend. However, within 14 minutes, Derry were ahead when Alan Murphy shot hom from outside the area past the despairing dive of Darren Quigley.

UCD rallied, but far too many long balls were mopped up by the Derry defence, while attempts to pass through the midfield were snuffed by the Derry midfield. UCD could have had an equaliser when Derry keeper David Forde allowed a cross to slip through his hands under no pressure at all, and it was the visiting keeper who allowed UCD back into the game. He was caught in no man's land when a cross came in, and though his defence cleared, Conan Byrne took advantage of the keeper's poor positioning to strike his first senior goal for the club from well outside the box.

It looked as if the clubs would enter the break level, but just before half-time, a cross from the right was turned past his own keeper by the unfortunate Pat McWalter.

In the second half, Derry were much the better team, although good defending - particularly from Mick O'Donnell - kept the visitors at bay. UCD's best chances were a couple of crosses fizzed across the area; one, coming in injury time, conjured up memories of the remarkable comeback in the semi-final in Tolka Park last month. However, after nothing came of the corner, the referee called time on the game and the Cup was heading north again.

UCD - Quigley; Mahon, O'Donnell, Shortall, McDonnell; Hurley, Gannon (Kenna), Dicker, McWalter (Dupuy); C Byrne, Murphy (Martin). Subs not used - Gallagher, Harte

Att - 2157

[Poor Student]

Att - 2157

Seriously!?

[pineapple stu]

Yep. Well, 2157 or 2174 or something like that. 21xx anyway. Capacity was 2500 for the night.

Watched the goals last night - amazing how far out I was on the descriptions above!!

[Poor Student]

I haven't seen them yet. My dad said Byrne's goal had nothing to do with the keeper but just a great finish. My older brother who went to Pats games years ago when they were winning titles said the LOI has improved beyond all recognition. My dad was impressed too watching at home.

I have a funny story. A friend of mine who I sold a ticket to decided to give him ticket up to barstool at the last minute when he discovered his beloved Spurs were playing in the Carling Cup on Sky. They ended up getting knocked out 1-0 by Grimsby.

[pineapple stu]

Clive and someone else went up for a header, Byrne was putting pressure and Clive's header went to space; Byrne shot first time into the corner. The keeper had started to come for the long ball and was caught in no-man's-land. He wasn't as culpable as I made out, but he should definitely have done better.

Thought it was a poor enough game myself, to be honest. Maybe that's good if poor games are getting good reviews!

[Poor Student]

Technically it was a decent enough game. I thought Derry were very strong and organised in defending. I thought we played nice at times. Mainly Dicker and Hurley, they do some very intelligent and nice things in midfield. However we lacked the final cutting edge. Story of our season really, or even our club. Thank God there was a good crowd, a lot of hard work was put into getting people to go to this one.

I think the major problems were the abesence of Tony Mac in midfield. Yes Hurley and Dicker are better than him going forward but we need his strength to stop the opposition bypassing the midfield. Also we needed Robbie Martin up front. You're not going to win the aerial or strength game against Derry's defence and I thought we needed his pace to get in around them. Also we could have done with a fit Ally Mac and Kenna defence. I think the injuries could have done with another week to clear up. Ah well, Bray on Friday, we must pick it up again.

[CuanaD]

might have looked a poor game if you were there, but it looked good on TV

[pineapple stu]

might have looked a poor game if you were there, but it looked good on TV

That's good to hear at least!

[Poor Student]

might have looked a poor game if you were there, but it looked good on TV

Great news. A cup final is enjoyable and not enjoyable at the same time with all at stake. Our view could be skewed by the bitter taste of defeat.

[GK for the Town]

It was a great nite for a great football match but the game didnt really match up.
There was some good defending on both sides that left little room for chances for either team. The midfield battle was also good. I thought Dicker was very good last nite. He sure does get around the pitch.
I'm not too sure if the Derry keeper was at fault for the goal but he was a DODGY KEEPER !! all nite(apart from when he came out and plucked the last corner of the game out of the air).