Kildare County 0-0 UCD

UCD failed to extend their lead at the top of the table after a dull 0-0 draw against Kildare in Newbridge on Saturday. The result means that, although the Students have the best away record in the league, they have only scored in one of their three away games against the teams expected to be challenging them for the title.

I actually missed the first half, and by all accounts didn't miss much. There was the rather bizarre sight of a fun-fair in full swing directly behind the ground, which must have been fairly distracting to both sets of players! The second half didn't have much excitement - UCD's best chance saw Willie Doyle pick up the ball on half-way and break forward into the box, but his final touch was too far in front of him and the keeper smothered. Robbie Martin also scuffed a shot in a good position, while UCD keeper Neil Gallagher spilled an easy free and in the ensuing scramble, Hugh Davey cleared at the expense of a corner and an injury to him.

Kildare didn't impress much overall, with their defence very prone to random hoofs up the pitch whenever the ball came towards them. That said, the state of the pitch did little to encourage passing football as there were a few large bald patches in the centre and around the goals in what was only Kildare's fourth home match of the season. While the ground is also used for Newbridge Town's matches (I think), it still doesn't bode well for how the pitch will look at the end of the season!

In the end, a 0-0 draw was a fair result, with neither side really doing enough to win. It's still encouraging to note that we've played three of the top teams in our opening six games (only Dundalk left to meet in the first round) and lead the division by a point. It's also interesting to note that we've played four away games and two home games, while our nearest challengers Bray and Kildare have played four home games and two away games.

Next week will be an interesting week as Limerick visit Belfield, Harps travel to Bray while Kildare go to Athlone, one of three teams (Sligo and UCD being the others) in the league with a 100% home record, all of whom have done it by scoring more than three goals a game on average.

UCD - Gallagher; Mahon, McAuley, McNally, Davey; McDonnell, Finn, Gannon, O'Donnell; McWalter (Doyle), Martin

Cormac Kenna came on late on, though I forget who for.

Yeah, it was a terrible game alright. Apologies for the pitch, it was a disgrace, as was that bull**** funfair that was behind the goal for the Dundalk gane aswell. Aperently it is a nice earner for Newbridge Town so thats why it is still there. One of our poorer performances this season for sure, and we will have to score more to get promoted with ye at the end of the season! :D

How long is it going to be there? I was coming over the bridge at half-time out of the station, and I knew roughly where the ground was, but didn't head in because I assumed that the pitch wasn't going to be right beside the funfair!

Interesting little ground yez have - far too small for the Premier obviously, but plenty of space on each side for stands. A fair few knowledgeable kids around as well who knew the team and the players - makes a change from the usual knacker kids!

Kildare County 0 UCD 0

With a little more conviction and a touch of luck around the box County could and should have taken all three points from table-toppers UCD at Station Road last night (Saturday). The much-vaunted Student’s strike force, which had netted 13 goals in their five games to date rarely threatened a County defence that has now conceded just two goal in six games.

As it happened the Thoroughbreds had to be content with the one point, which sees them sit in second place in the table just a point behind Pete Mahon’s side. Eric Hannigan set out his stall when he named Alan Kelly on the left side of midfield instead of Alan McNevin. Kelly is noted for his defensive abilities and it proved to be the correct choice as Kelly did his chances of staking a permanent claim to the berth no harm at all.

County were first to attack when after four minutes Shane Harte and Ger O’Brien created an opening for Robbie Griffin, who shot wide of Neil Gallagher’s right post. Eight minutes later Peter Rogers laid the ball off perfectly for Barry O’Connor, whose effort was just wide of the same post. The Student’s first shot on target came in the 15th. minute when Michael O’Donnell’s free from twenty-five yards was easily dealt with by Danny O’Leary. One minute later the visitors broke through when Alan McMahon freed Robert Martin but his dipping shot from the right was well over.

Perhaps the best chance of the game fell to County after 20 minutes. A ball from Shane Harte was helped on by Barry O’Connor and Alan Kelly arrived at the back post to bring a stunning save from Gallagher at the expense of a corner, which brought no reward. Meanwhile at the other end a marvellous interception by fullback Ger O’Brien denied Robert Martin a shot on goal. UCD’s best chance of the evening came after 27 minutes when a long ball out of defence by Hugh Davey caught the Kildare defence square allowing Robert Martin to bear down on goal but O’Leary did enough to take the sting out of his effort and Ray Kenny got back to clear to safety.

As the visitors began to enjoy a spell of superiority they again came close when Patrick McWalter headed a Brian Gannon cross dangerously close to Danny O’Leary’s right post. The last action of the first half saw Alan Kelly force visiting keeper Gallagher into a fine save from a drive from just outside the box. County had much the better of the second half exchanges. Martin Reilly was just off target with a dipping effort five minutes after the break and on the hour Barry O’Connor brought another fine save from the keeper when he got on the end of an Alan Kelly cross. Six minutes later a Peter Rogers volley was scrambled to safety but the overworked UCD defence and soon after Reilly set up O’Connor, whose shot was smothered by Gallagher.

In the final ten minutes Griffin, O’Brien and Rogers all came close but the Thoroughbred’s woes in front of goal persisted and UCD held on for an away point they surely will be happy with and the largest Station Road crowd of the season left thinking no doubt that rather than a point gained this was two points left behind. Nevertheless County remain the only unbeaten side in the division with an undefeated league run now stretching back ten games

County:O’Leary, G O’Brien, Cronin, Kenny, P Byrne, Rogers, Harte, Griffin, Reilly, O’Connor, Kelly. Subs: Hobbert, K O’Brien, McNevin (for Kelly 89), Zellor, O’Donnell.

UCD: Gallagher, Mahon, Davey, McNally, McDonnell, McWalter, Gannon, Martin, Finn, O’Donnell. Subs: Kenna (for Finn 88), Kierans, Foley, Doyle (for McWalter 71), Quigley.

Referee: Neil Doyle

Just to follow on from the previous comments, UCD will have to continue win a multitude of matches through the season and maybe if our full-backs didn't play inside the penalty area against the likes of Kildare County maybe we'll win some six-pointers.

"there were a few large bald patches in the centre and around the goals ".

I'm curious to know why there was a very large bald patch in the middle of one half of the pitch.

Awful game, hardly any football played by either side although Kildare's attempts to hit low flying planes with many of their hoofs deserve more complaints. The terrible pitch was presumably at least partly to blame but most of the hoofing seemed to be unnecessary. Kildare had more and probably better chances but a couple of good saves from Gallagher and some terrible shooting kept them at bay.

Doyle looked good when he came on, a great run could well have led to a goal but for a great tackle by one of the Kildare defenders. Assuming he's fit to start against Limerick, he should. Gannon was good on the right despite a lack of opportunities to run with the ball but the centre of midfield didn't seem to be able to impose themselves on the game. I wonder was Tony Mac fully fit?

Yes it was a poor game . Yes the pitch was poor. Yes the funfair was bizarre.
However at the end of the day we got a clean sheet a point against a promotion rival and stayed in first place. All things considered not a bad return from an away trip.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HarpoJoyce

"there were a few large bald patches in the centre and around the goals ".

I'm curious to know why there was a very large bald patch in the middle of one half of the pitch.

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Sorry, that is the one I was referring to by in the centre of the pitch. Apparently there were more, though - was talking to Joe Nelson on the way out and he wasn't very happy with the pitch at all.