UCD 3-1 Limerick

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, the count was roughly in line with what I thought it would be. No idea why it was so poor - we had a higher crowd for a 6pm kick-off the day of the World Cup semi!!! Doubt Arsenal-Man City at the same time on Sky helped. Maybe Fridays are better...

Limerick were a handy team - didn't realise Danny Drew was manager for the day! - but I think once we went 1-0 down, we started to play and deserved the win in the end. A proper keeper probably would have saved the second, but not sure about the third.

[pineapple stu]

UCD advances to their fourth quarter-final in six years with a hard-fought win over managerless and keeperless Limerick FC in Belfield this evening. Despite their recent troubles, Limerick took the lead against the Students, only for a Ronan Finn brace to help UCD advance to the last eight.

Limerick had to re-shuffle their team with midfielder Tommy Barrett going in nets with their three regulars keepers out through injury, and the FAI refusing permission for new signing Austin O'Neill to play. UCD also had changes to make due to suspension and ineligibility, with Brian Shortall, Paul Byrne and Darragh Ryan coming in to replace Gary Dicker (suspended), Paul Crowley (cup-tied) and Derek Doyle (injured).

Limerick started off by far the better, countering quickly and getting numbers back to defend, and it was 25 minutes before UCD managed to get a shot in on Barrett. However, five minutes later, Limerick had the lead when a well-worked move saw them carve open the UCD defence, and Robbie Kelleher curled home a superb shot from 12 yards past the helpless Quigley.

The goal spurred UCD into action, and the Students were level three minutes later when Conor Sammon played in Ronan Finn, who made no mistake from a similar distance witho nly the keeper to beat.

Pete Mahon can't have been happy with his charges at the break, and he signalled his dissatisfaction with a double substitution at half-time. However, the subs hadn't ben fully announced by the time UCD took the lead seconds into the second half - Ronan Finn having a punt from the edge of the area, and Barrett's lack of goalkeeping expertise showing as the shot snuck in at the near post.

Whatever about the second, there was little Barrett could do about UCD's third - a superb free-kick from Stephen Hurley straight into the top corner from 30 yards out.

Limerick, to their credit, never gave up, and came close to puttling one back on a couple of occasions, notably when Darren Quigley had to react superbly to save a deflected effort from six yards, while Alan McNally had to clear off his own line, with Qugley chesting down the clearance and clearing for fear of conceding a free-kick from a ref who had been giving some highly dubious decisions throughout the game. At the other end, debutante Timmy Purcell was nearest to adding to UCD's tally when rounding Barrett, but his touch was just too hard and the ball ran out of play before Purcell could slot into an empty net.

It was hardly a vintage UCD performance, but it matters not as the Students became the first team through to the quarters and will await next week's draw with interest. After three narrow defeats - two in extra time of a replay - is luck finally about to turn UCD's way?

UCD - Quigley; Mahon, Kenna, Shortall, McNally; McDonnell, Ryan (Hurley 45), Finn, McWalter; Sammon (Purcell 83), P Byrne (C Byrne 45). Subs not used - Hussey, Harte, O'Sullivan, AN Other.

Att - 198

[Bald Student]

UCD advances to their fourth quarter-final in six years

Madam,
Singular noun, singular verb, plural pronoun. Is this a record?
Yours &c,
Bald Student

[Poor Student]

I thought we were very poor for the first 25-30 mins. That said, Limerick also played quite well, their goal was very nice, some good incisive football and a quality finish. I think the reason the second goal went in with such ease was down to Barrett's positioning. I think his inexperience in goal left him to expose the post far too much and there was no point in even diving. I think it was a great spot by Finn who seems to be a player with great awareness. His positioning possibly let him down for the free kick too. He did his best though. Fair play to the Limerick fans. Though few in number (like ourselves!) they made some noise and sang their team off at the end. Another very encouraging performance from young Finn. I hope the rusty performance was just down to the week off.

[CollegeTillIDie]

I hope the rusty performance was just down to the week off.

We should have looked to play some Serie B team in a friendly last week like say... Juventus

[Lim till i die]

Fair play to the Limerick fans. Though few in number (like ourselves!) they made some noise and sang their team off at the end.

It's nice to be appreciated once in awhile

[pineapple stu]

Madam,
Singular noun, singular verb, plural pronoun. Is this a record?
Yours &c,
Bald Student

Madam,
I object to meaningless, petty letters from people who just want themselves to be heard. The first such incident occurred in 1957...

I can't change now. You missed the real error though - I should of course have used the past tense, not the present tense. I have explained my logic for considering a team to be a plural noun (on the basis that the opposite of "we" is "they", not "it"), and won't be changing that. I'm not sure if drinking until whatever time the post was counts as an error or not.

Unless yours was merely a sketch of those irritating one-liners in the Irish Times, the authors of which should be summarily shot as a general rule.

Yours &c,
Me.

[Schumi]

That seems very high lads

The inexperienced in counting small crowds in Belfield always underestimate the amount of people standing around the ground. There were 120 (I think) people standing around the fence which is more than it looks. The crowd was still brutal though obviously, for whatever reason.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Irish people cannot be arsed to go to REAL live soccer under any circumstances per chance?

[CollegeTillIDie]

Two interested spectators at the game from Germany were Sven and Michael. They are fans of FFC Frankfurt, Germany's leading WOMEN'S team. The two guys came over for the Republic of Ireland V Germany , Women's World Cup Qualification Group 4 match earlier in the day.
Then, they wanted to visit Belfield Park, cause they are friends of two guys who write a book called Groundhoppers.
This book lists all the Grounds in the major Leagues in Europe( where possible). And there are a hardcore group of fans in the country who buy the book .These are fans who want to visit all the grounds in a League in a foreign country.

One of the lads has only 4 more grounds to visit in Sweden
The other one is trying to get to all the 4th Division grounds in Germany.
Anyway just thought I'd share that with you, and the Bowl will be in the next Edition

[pineapple stu]

And what did they make of Belfield then...?

[CollegeTillIDie]

There were many latecomers to the game last week which might account somewhat for the discrepancy between estimated figures and counted ones.