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.
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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.You can't spell failure without FAIComment
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is oprea not in the squad?????Comment
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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 1300Comment
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Lads
Hasn't it dawned on anyone that we lose almost every time Tony Mc misses a game?Comment
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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.Comment
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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.Comment
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Well if we concede more than last year we could be in trouble given that historically we never score that many....Comment
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And if we score more than last year, we'll be well set given that historically we never concede too many.
We're not arrogant, we're just better.Comment
(was 15-2 yesterday
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