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You can't spell failure without FAI -
Which was when Finn was playing in an unfamiliar position, as I've already explained.
He isn't as physical as those two but is still adequate.
He's started 6 games since he came back from injury, played 90 minutes in 4 of them. He still looked off the pace last night- I don't think his fitness is going to get any better, especially as he's entering the stage of his career where he is beginning to wind down and his history of injuries.Comment
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In all fairness to Dman, what has he said wrong? What outfield player is still approaching his peak at 31? Tony is markedly less effective than he was two years ago. That may be partly or largely down to his fitness but as Dman rightly points out it's harder and harder to regain your peak fitness at 31 and climbing when you're injury prone. I think if Tony can steer clear of injuries then he still has a lot to offer but maybe more so at the back and not in midfield.Comment
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Derek Doyle’s fifth goal of the season helped extend UCD’s unbeaten run against St Pat’s to five games, denting the Saints’ title prospects at the same time. An even game opened up well after half time, and both sides had excellent chances to claim all three points, but in the end, a draw was probably a fair result.
Pete Mahon went with a 4-5-1 formation for the game, with Pat McWalter, Conan Byrne and Paul Crowley making way for Tony McDonnell, Ronan Finn and Doyle.
However, it was title chasing Saints – who gave a debut to former UCD forward Glen Fitzpatrick and the expense of top scorer Mark Quigley – who started much the stronger, with some promising attacks which foundered on the rock solid UCD defence. Anto Murphy scuffed a shot straight at Darren Quigley, while Alan McNally was called on to block away an Alan Kirby effort.
However, neither keeper had been particularly tested by the time the Students took the lead midway through the first half. Conor Sammon laid the ball off to Brian King, who played a perfect through ball to Derek Doyle, and the winger calmly advanced before clinically stroking past Barry Ryan from the edge of the area.
The game started to open up from that point, and four minutes later, Anto Murphy broke free down the left but failed to notice Glen Fitzpatrick in acres of space on the far side of the box until such time as he had been crowded out by retreating defenders. And ten minutes from half time, Fitzpatrick headed down a cross to Keith Fahey, who drove just wide of Darren Quigley’s left hand post.
However, it was UCD who started the second half much the stronger – Shane Fitzgerald forced a corner a minute into half, from which Tony McDonnell headed agonisingly wide. Five minutes later, Shane Fitzgerald pounced on a loose pass to break free down the right, but his cross just failed to find the unmarked Conor Sammon, who would surely have made it 2-0.
Pat’s did have chances too, and Conor Kenna, having first halted Anto Murphy’s marauding approach with a good tackle, cleared off the line from Alan Kirby after a quick Pat’s counter.
UCD almost took a 2-0 lead with a remarkable fumble from Barry Ryan, who let Brian King’s speculative 25-yard drive slip under him and just wide of his post. From the corner, Derek Doyle and Alan McNally both had efforts cleared off the line in a desperate scramble.
With the second goal looking crucial, it fell to the home side, although there was a stroke of good fortune about it. Alan Kirby was played in but was tackled by Conor Kenna; however, the ball rebounded up, off Kirby and straight into the winger’s path to allow him an easy poke home.
Both sides received a blow shortly afterwards when a clash of heads resulted in the departure of both Tony McDonnell and Keith Fahey; Brian Shortall took over in the UCD mid while Michael Macek, a former Czech Republic U-21 international, came on for his Pat’s debut.
UCD continued to create chances as the game wore on – Brian King’s drive from a cleared corner was going wide until Shane Fitzgerald deflected it towards goal, but Barry Ryan was in the right place to save, while on 80 minutes, a free from the left was headed to the far corner by Sammon, but again, Ryan was down to save.
However, Pat’s were dangerous too, with substitute Quigley having a good chance on 84 minutes easily saved by his namesake in the UCD goal, while Peter Hynes should have marked his debut with a goal 30 seconds later when put through by Conor Sammon, but he opted to slide for the ball instead of poking it home, and Ryan was out to smother.
The game was speeding towards its conclusion, with Darren Quigley out of his box to head clear a dangerous Pat’s through ball before somehow clawing away a point blank header from Anto Murphy and Alan Mahon becoming the sixth player into the referee’s notebook with a hard challenge which was typical of a game which was, nevertheless, never played in a bad spirit. Straight up the other end of the pitch, Brian King wasn’t far away with a 30-yard drive, while at the other end, Mark Quigley sensationally beat six blue shirts before somehow getting a drive away which Darren Quigley saved.
The drama continued right to the end when, with 30 seconds of injury time remaining, Seán O’Connor broke into the box and went down under the challenge of Conor Kenna, but the referee correctly ruled that there was nothing in the tackle, and that O’Connor had taken a dive.
That was practically the last action of the game, with both sides emerging battered, bruised but one point better off, a point which will please UCD more than St Pat’s.
UCD – Quigley; Mahon, Bermingham, Kenna, McNally; McDonnell (Shortall 72), Finn (Hynes 81), King, Fitzgerald, Doyle (C Byrne 62); Sammon. Subs not used – Gregg, BolgerComment
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I know what age he is but due to injuries and the fact that he started playing regularly at a young age he doesn't have the body of a 31 year old. Once footballers enter the latter part of their career they play less due to age- this is what I meant by winding down.
I watched it in slow motion and there is clear movement of his arm towards the ball.Comment
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And there's no consensus between a couple of people all biased in one direction who've seen it multiple times including slow motion replays. The ref didn't call it, and it seems it was reasonable to make that decision (unless refs come with superhuman slow motion replays these days). Let's forget about it.You can't spell failure without FAIComment
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Separating performances from results (which I know is academic but over the long term performances will yield results) we have been playing pretty well.
Longford away was really an aberration in terms of performance - even Sligo at home wasn't a bad performance - lousy result but we gave away daft goals and had a hatful of chances to score.
I think we can be confident that at this level of performance we should have no relegation problems this season or next. The back 5 is solid, the midfield 4 is solid and with Hynes, we should have a few options up front, especially when Byrne is back.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the season so far - we are playing (or trying to, at least) some nice stuff - as, in fairness, do most teams. Ref's have been decent.
No prizes for guessing my player of the year so far but apart from the Magnet, there are a few other notable contenders - McNally, McFaul, Conan, Finn, Bermingham.DB Cooper is alive !Comment
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