UCD draw with Monaghan....

Just typical of football eh? Monaghan abolutely hammered by lower midtable Cobh Ramblers then hold table toppers UCD to a 0-0 draw. I wasn't at the match so I don't know if Monaghan just put 11 men on the goal line in response to last week or whather they actually played well. Disappointing result as it sees UCD stuck back in second again. Finn Harps still have games against Kildare County and Bray to go so maybe they will drop some more points. UCD face a tough test away to Kildare next week but after that their run in is comparably easier than the Harps. But then again no victory is guaranteed as UCD have seen tonight.

UCD dropped two valuable points in a freezing cold and foggy Century Homes Park on Thursday night to drop back behind Harps in the race for the First Division title. The result now means that defeat in Kildare next week could be potentially disastrous for our entire promotion hopes.

Monaghan had of course lost 8-1 in Cobh the previous week, and their defence in particular showed it as the term "first touch" in particular seemed completely alien to them. However, with their midfield more than willing to defend, UCD were restricted to only a few first-half chances, most notably when Robbie Martin's (?) shot was deflected onto the outside of the post. For the most part, though, it was one-way traffic, with the bumpy pitch in particular causing havoc for the Students, as more than one cross (though that certainly doesn't excuse the amount of poor crosses we put in) went wildly astray after taking a bobble just in front of the crosser. The very physical Monaghan team didn't give UCD much time to settle on the ball either, and three players were booked for very rough challenges which necessitated treatment for Philly Hughes and Seán Finn, with the former being subbed off a minute after a Monaghan player went right through him as he burst past.

The second half couldn't have been much worse than the first, and it wasn't, as UCD exerted their obvious superiority in ability while just not able to carve out any clear-cut chances. Pat McWalter on the right wing impressed up to the point of crossing the ball, Seán Finn went close with a 20-yarder while UCD did have the ball in the net with 10 minutes to go when Monghan keeper Vlad Munteanu made a meal of another long-range Finn shot and Micko tucked home the rebound only for the linesman to give offside to the obvious delight of more than one Monaghan player. Another chance saw Mick O'Donnell cut the ball back to Seán Finn on the edge of the area, but his shot was blocked away by one of the many Monaghan bodies which always seemed to be around the area.

For Monaghan's part, they didn't have a shot on goal worth mentioning, and only forced two or three corners in the entire match - one of which looked a ridiculous decision as Darren Quigley shepherded the ball out of play - and they really looked happy with a containing game. When they won a corner in the last minute, bad memories of games when one team scores at the death completely against the run of play came to mind, but fortunately not to fruition. As it was, though, one point for them was almost a travesty tempered only by the fact that UCD somehow had failed to break down a very poor team and can ultimately have no real complaints.

UCD - Quigley; Sullivan, McAuley, Kenna, McNally; Murphy, McWalter, Finn, O'Donnell; Hughes (Doyle 72), Martin. Subs not used - Gallagher, Gannon, AN Other (x 2)

Att - 106