UCD 2-4 Rovers

[DmanDmythDledge]

Only saw the first half but up to that point it was an even enough game. Hynes should have scored that chance to put us 2-0 up. Very clumsy tackle from Kenna to give away the penalty- not like him at all. Quigley was unlucky not to keep it out- after saving it it seemed to bounce off his knee and somehow go past him.

What happened from there on? Not often we concede four goals, although having half a defence could have been just a slight problem. Also RTÉ say Fitzy's goal was from close range while irishfootballonline say it was from long range.

[pineapple stu]

Pretty sure it was Bermingham who gave away the peno, although it varies depending on who you talk to.

RTÉ are talking sh"te.

[pineapple stu]

An Andy Myler hat trick sealed a rare crushing defeat for UCD, who never really got to grips with their title-chasing opponents. Although the Students both opened and finished the scoring, the result was never really in doubt once Myler had put the Hoops in the lead around the hour mark.

With Ronan Finn ruled out through injury, Peter Hynes came back into the line up as the only change from the team which had won in Dundalk; Alan Mahon and Alan McNally were both ruled out through injury, and Tony McDonnell was only on the bench, which meant the captain's armband was worn by Conor Kenna.

UCD had a dream start, taking the lead inside the first minute, Conor Sammon celebrating his Ireland U-21 call up with a right footed finish from close range. And a couple of minutes later, it could have been 2-0 when Peter Hynes was played in but, in acres of space, he snapped at his shot and sent the ball high over the bar.

UCD were to pay for that miss within minutes when Rovers gained a very soft equaliser. Conor Kenna stuck his leg out and clearly clipped his man in the box to concede a needless penalty; Tadhg Purcell's spot kick was weak, but it had just enough on it to take it past Darren Quigley to make the scores 1-1.

The remainder of the half was even but scoreless; Shane McFaul picked up his sixth booking of the season after a heavy, but seemingly fair, challenge in the mid, but neither keeper was seriously troubled.

Within minutes of the second half, Conor Sammon went on a bustling run to the edge of the Rovers box, but was bundled off the ball by a combination of three covering Rovers defenders. No free kick was awarded, and Rovers took advantage to take the lead within three minutes - a deep cross wasn't dealt with by UCD, and although Purcell's looping header came back off the bar, Andy Myler was on hand to scramble home the rebound.

If the goal was a bit harsh on a battling UCD side, Rovers followed it up with an extended period of dominance, with the hosts struggling to get out of their own half for long spells. David Cassidy tried his luck from 30 yards but found Quigley equal to the task, tipping over the bar, before the Hoops extended their lead on 72. A slack pass from defence, a hallmark of the Students' play for much of the previous 20 minutes, allowed the Hoops to return the ball back over the hosts' short changed defence, and Andy Myler, in acres of space, ran onto the ball and flicked home an exquisite goal across Quigley with the outside of his boot.

The goal pretty much killed the game off, although there were still plenty of talking points to come. Referee Declan Hanney almost had to come off injured after running into a Rovers player and falling to the ground, hitting his head hard as he did so; after a couple of minutes lying motionless on the ground, he rose and resumed his role. Then Sammon muscled the ball off Barry Murphy in the Hoops goal to set up Conan Byrne, but from six yards, he somehow shot straight at the recovering Murphy with the goal gaping.

Again, UCD were made pay in clinical circumstances. Conor Kenna knocked a loose ball back to Tony McDonnell - coming on as a sub for his 300th UCD appearance - but, looking decidedly uncomfortable on the ball, he was dispossessed by Eóin Doyle before rugby tackling the Rovers sub to the ground. After McDonnell went into the referee's notebook, Myler coolly took the penalty to complete his hat trick.

There was time for one more goal, arguably the best of the evening, when Shane Fitzgerald rifled home a loose ball from 20 yards and at a narrow angle. However, it was far too late to be anything other than a consolation, and although Paul Crowley should have pulled another back when heading wide while unmarked at the far post, Rovers saw the match out for a thoroughly deserved victory.

UCD - Quigley; King, Bermingham, Kenna, Shortall; Crowley (McWalter 82), McFaul, Fitzgerald, Doyle (C Byrne 72); Hynes (McDonnell 72), Sammon. Subs not used - Gregg, Murphy.

[Poor Student]

I was behind the goal when Fitz scored, the shot had a banana type bend on it, a total rocket.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Seeing as we all missed Sammo's here's what eircomloi.ie had to say about it:

College striker Conor Sammon celebrated his call-up to Don Givens' Irish Under 21 squad as a replacement for Sunderland's Anthony Stokes with a stunning strike after just 46 seconds giving 'keeper Barry Murphy no chance.

A hooked cross by Brian Shortall on the right was flicked on by Shane McFaul allowing Sammon to shield the ball before turning cleverly and firing home from 14 yards.

[Sniffer]

What exactly are you a student of?

[Poor Student]

Seeing as we all missed Sammo's here's what eircomloi.ie had to say about it:

Sounds like his goal against Harps this season.

Peter Hynes seems to snatch at chances in a very panicy sort of way. He absolutely blasted a great chance to put us two up instead of taking time to place it as Dman mentioned earlier.

[hoops1]

fcuking disgraceful performance, we were crap. rovers were sihte we were just worse.
i was very disappointed by the way the rovers players kept diving and rolling around pretending to be hurt.
This is why every other club hate rovers.
they are scum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UCD had 2 great chances just after they scored if they took one it would have been different. But we dominated the whole second half. To say Rovers were ****e is untrue. It was a good performance. You need to learn to take defeat a bit better

[Poor Student]

You need to learn to take defeat a bit better

The way I look at it, you're two points closer to stopping Doolin.

[Schumi]

Rovers were decent enough but we made it so easy for them that I wouldn't read too much into their performance.

Gargamel, leave off the swearing, will you.

[Gargamel]

UCD had 2 great chances just after they scored if they took one it would have been different. But we dominated the whole second half. To say Rovers were ****e is untrue. It was a good performance. You need to learn to take defeat a bit better

listen man i can accept defeat, remember i follow UCD therefore i am used to it,
it really annoyed me though the way we were so bad last night and the way the rovers players kept diving, i can remember at least 4 times they were rolling around pretending to be hurt and were fine two minutes later,
i mean what was the story with the second penalty he was barely touched and he just threw himself to the ground.

with all due respect yous are a decent team andall that and i dont think yous need to cheat to win games

[Gargamel]

and the ref too,
that was hilarious although i thought he was seriously injured at first

[Schumi]

i mean what was the story with the second penalty he was barely touched and he just threw himself to the ground.

That was the most blatant (and stupid) penalty I've seen in years. Tony grabbed him and pushed onto the ground.

[Gargamel]

ah Ciaran will you stop, why dont you go and start supporting rovers as that is a response i would expect coming from some of those sad rovers fans but not a UCD fan or an unbiased neutral

[DmanDmythDledge]

I saw the highlights again on the Rovers forum and the defending for all four Rovers' goal was shocking.

First goal Bermingham seemed to be well out of position- no sign of him anywhere. Crowley took his time getting back and then a clumsy tackle from Kenna when Purcell was going away from goal. Quigley should have kept it out too.

Second goal one of their players easily gets by 3 of our players on the left. Ball comes into the box and Bermingham makes absolutely no effort to challenge for the ball- may as well not being there. Don't know what Quigley was at and Kenna was too slow to react.

Third goal was a sublime finish by Myler but Kenna gave him far too much space and he was under no pressure and easily picked his spot. King let him get in behind, but he's playing in an unfamiliar position.

Fourth goal Kenna ****ed around with the ball for ages- should have just put it out for a throw. Eventually gives Tony an awkward ball but he still should have dealt with it- God knows what he was doing. Then gives away a stupid foul.

On a positive note Sammo took his goal well- good finish- and our best player will be back from injury for the Drogheda game.

Peter Hynes seems to snatch at chances in a very panicy sort of way. He absolutely blasted a great chance to put us two up instead of taking time to place it as Dman mentioned earlier.

Looking at that chance he had again and he had plenty of time to take the ball down and pick his spot. He didn't to panick though, maybe he's just crap like all the fans of his former clubs said. In fairness to him though he seems good at winning the ball in the air.