UCD 0-1 St Pat's

St Pat's first goal in Belfield Park in the league in over five years gave them their first league victory at the venue in almost ten years to leave College pointless and goalless after two games. While it ultimately needed a moment of magic from Seán O'Connor to separate the two sides, it was no more than the Saints deserved as UCD failed to create much in the way of chances.

With club captain Tony McDonnell still injured, UCD were unchanged from the team which had gone down 2-0 to Derry last week. Paul Byrne took part in the warm-up session, but wasn't risked for a place on the bench yet, but his comeback appears to be now only a couple of weeks away as well.

On a bitterly cold night, Pat's started the brighter, and Alan Mahon earned UCD's first booking of the season just three minutes in with a late tackle on his man on the left wing. Pat's created more chances, but their Achilles' Heel in front of goal let them down on several occasions, with the Saints threatening the student residences of Glenomena far more regularly than Darren Quigley in the UCD goal. At the other end, UCD's attacks usually got no further than the wings, with too few blue shirts in the Pat's box to threaten.

UCD's best chance of the game came just into the second half, when Conan Byrne got in behind the Pat's defence, but his shot from an angle was well held by former UCD keeper Barry Ryan.

The only goal of the game came just past the hour mark when O'Connor latched onto a loose ball some 30 yards out and rifled a shot past Darren Quigley straight into the top corner.

Towards the end, UCD finally started to cause the Pat's defence some worries, forcing a series of corners as they pumped the ball into the box in a late attempt to salvage something from the game. However, the Pat's defence held firm to finally break their Belfield Park hoodoo and go - temporarily at least - to the top of the league pile.

UCD - Quigley; Mahon, Ryan, Kenna, McNally; Hurley (Matthews 73), Cawley, Dicker, McWalter; C Byrne, Quinn (Sammon 78)

Att - 570

We werent too impressive now i must say. Lacked fight i didnt like that

lefty

Couldn't score in a brothel, I never like that !

We're joint bottom with Bohs now

Can't argue with any of that. First time in years to score there, first time on god knows how long we were the better team

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Can't argue with any of that. First time in years to score there, first time on god knows how long we were the better team

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I think the answer to both is the league cup final, 199something.

Wasn't at the game, but by the sounds of it U.C.D. we a completely terrible. Will need to sort themselves out quickly. Was there actually an attempt to sign a striker in the summer or was Mahon happy with strikers who couldn't run if they saw the bird they picked up the previous weekend approaching?

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Originally Posted by Student Mullet

I think the answer to both is the league cup final, 199something.

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It was actually 2000/2001 season!

We signed a striker - Ciarán Quinn. He actually did OK holding the ball up and laying it off, but never really got into any dangerous positions. There was an attempt to sign Myler as well, but nothing came of it.

Ciaran Quinn used to play for us. fancies himself and he's big and strong. Think he wa with Monaghan last year and did nothing for them.

Not up to premier standard IMO

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Ciaran Quinn used to play for us. fancies himself and he's big and strong. Think he wa with Monaghan last year and did nothing for them.

Not up to premier standard IMO

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Well what did Pete Mahon see in him that made him think he would be good enough for the Premier Division:confused: I know that U.C.D. don't have the largest budget, but surely they could have got someone better than that. (Athough I will make a proper judgement of him when I've seen him play.)

I am thinking of entering the team in for one of those reality TV shows.
This one will be called " Can't Score, Won't Score" :(

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Originally Posted by dmandmythdledge

Well what did Pete Mahon see in him that made him think he would be good enough for the Premier Division:confused:

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He was quoted somewhere last week praising his prowess or something like that. Got a decent goal in pre-season too. Against Kilkenny, granted, but still!

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Originally Posted by Student Mullet

I think the answer to both is the league cup final, 199something.

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That was a 2-2 draw so only covers one of the above.

I was at the match last week, UCD looked ok. I did think your two full backs are out of there depth in this league. I have to admit as a Pats fan we have had 2 good results but we don't look to good either. I don't know how we got the goal:confused: the whole of the UCD backline just kept backing of, the only one who went to challenge O connor was Dicker he ran 30 yards to do it. I taught we were lucky to get the result in the end:O)

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Originally Posted by thegit

I was at the match last week, UCD looked ok. I did think your two full backs are out of there depth in this league.

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I'd pretty much agree with you on all of that git. Our left back Darragh Ryan is woefully out of his depth. Alan Mahon isn't the worst but in an ideal world we'd get a better right back in.

I'm sure teams that play against UCD know if they have pacey wingers there just going to have a fieled day against your full backs. Everytime I've seen UCD playing they get rapped, and the amount of time they give the ball away is ridiculous. Do they ever play little one two's all i could see them doing was playing straight up to the front men.

Well, one thing is we're missing Tony McDonnell. He plays a lot of simple passes in the middle and also intercepts and wins a lot of opposition balls. It means our midfield is a lot looser. The lack of one twos has been around since Sean Finn left. We've had no midfielder willing to drive forward often and run beyond the defenders. You saw us criticising Dicker before, that's the main reason. For all his skill and tricks, he rarely takes the ball forward or makes a run beyond the defenders.

yeah but he's the only good player that UCD has it cant be his fault, the full backs never play inside or show for it, and when the ball is played for the full backs it has to be right to there foot, there to slow to make an average ball look good. I do agree you do miss McDonnell but all he does is break up the play lets face it he's not the best passer of a ball. UCD give the ball away by constantly playing the long ball and with no experience or big target man it just puts the midfield on the back foot. I think Dicker would trive with more experienced players around him, i think he can see a pass better than anyone else in your team.

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Originally Posted by thegit

yeah but he's the only good player that UCD has it cant be his fault, the full backs never play inside or show for it, and when the ball is played for the full backs it has to be right to there foot, there to slow to make an average ball look good.

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As an attacking full back, Mahon on the right offers little. Too slow, doesnt show, you're right. On the left, Darragh Ryan is a bit better but overall a bad player. Obviously the bad full backs is going to put pressure on the wingers to cover and have them pinned back.

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Originally Posted by thegit

I do agree you do miss McDonnell but all he does is break up the play lets face it he's not the best passer of a ball.

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He's not a wonferful passes but he plays the short ball and keeps it simple, a bit like Neil Lennon. That ends up with you retaining possession.

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Originally Posted by thegit

UCD give the ball away by constantly playing the long ball and with no experience or big target man it just puts the midfield on the back foot.

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I agree with you there. We keep playing long balls to Conon Byrne. He's neither a target man nor has any pace. He's not good in my opinion. Paul Byrne should be back soon who could serve as a target man and promised a lot.

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I think Dicker would trive with more experienced players around him, i think he can see a pass better than anyone else in your team.

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I'm sure he would, but to be fair a lot of his passing has been sloppy. He's got bags of talent and potential and I'm sure he'll become more aware of movement and the likes as he gets older and as he probably moves on to bigger things.

You've pinpointed it though, two slow full backs who are not great defenders draws the opponents onto you and pins you back and it also takes options away going forward.