UCD opened their defence of the Fans' Assoication of Ireland - Supporters Have It Too, Even! league title with a hard-fought win over Cork City on the UCD astroturf on Friday afternoon. Just like in UCD's game in Longford last season, where De Town hit the post around 5 times, just like De Real Town were doing around the same time, so this match also saw the supporters' teams parody the form of the real teams - Cork hoofing theball aimlessly far too often, UCD playing skillful, attacking football, tearing the opposition apart at will. :D
In roasting conditions, it was Cork who took the lead after Aberdonian Stu picked up a goal-kick and waited as Éanna tackled him and went on to drive past Pineapple Stu in nets. Not long later, Cork were looking comfortable as a goal I can't remember at all saw it 2-0 with about 15 minutes gone.
But College fought back and @ndy, who scored 5 of UCD's 9 goals in Longford, gave them a life-line with a stunning shot on the turn which smacked in off the stanchion, with UCD waving aside Cork's protests that the goal shouldn't stand because their keeper was talking to someone at the time. And five minutes later, it was all square as about the 173rd John to be associated with UCD fans disposessed the Cork keeper on the half-way line and scored into an empty net.
With College having the momentum, it came as no surprise when they took the lead just before half-time, John cutting in from the wing and blasting past the City keeper. But the lead wasn't to last as City equalised on the stroke of half-time. There was more than a hint of handball in the build-up, but in fairness, the finish was clinical.
Not long into the second half and Pineapple Stu's traditional one howler per match saw Cork take the lead. A seriously long hoof from the City goalkeeper reached the UCD goal-line before bouncing, where Pineapple Stu for some reason kicked the ball straight to Colm, who finished with ease.
And a couple of minutes later, it was 4-4. Pineapple Stu played a goal-kick straight up to John, who turned his man, advanced on the keeper and slotted home with ease.
With the game being played in such hot conditions (and as Cork had insisted on 6-a-side, there were no subs :mad: :mad: ), and the Astroturf cutting feet to ribbons, it looked like the game would peter out into a draw. Éanna saw his long ranger batted away by Pineapple Stu, while @ndy got a couple of good openings for College, but his finishing left him down. There was a bit of controversy too - first up was a blatant obstruction from Bald Student for which Cork claimed a penalty (they spend all their time whingeing about the referees, and then show that they don't even know the rules themselves ;) - obstruction is an indirect free-kick, and so no penalty can be awarded for it, only an indirect free-kick inside the area), while at the other end, @ndy was pushed when clean through on goal and later obstructed as well to even things out. That said, it was never a dirty game, just one which both teams wanted to win.
And it was College who snatched the victory in the dying minutes - John again was instrumental, cutting in from the wing and unleashing a shot which the keeper could only parry. @ndy was on hand to head the rebound, but the keeper pulled off another fine save, before John (or @ndy, depending on who you talk to. @ndy is insistant that he didn't score it:confused: )poked him the rebound.
And that was how it finished, despite late Cork pressure as they wasted a decent free-kick with the last kick of the match. And so it was the College who carried off the UCD-Cork "Foot.ie" challenge Cup, filling it with beer and drinking from it as is traditional. Unfortunately, it only contained about a shot measure...
Thieving b@st@rds that they are, City wanted their trophy back, and so a penalty shoot-out was arranged, which they duly won 2-1, with keeper Pineapple Stu being the only one to score for College, while Éanna scored for City as well as somebody I can't remember...
City take on Longford in a couple of weeks, while we travel to the Mucky Midlands ourselves at the end of May to gain revenge for the 6 goals they scored on us. If any other fans would be interested in participating in this league, which ultimately we would like to see being played alongside the real league, post here or PM Pineapple Stu or Colm.
Pictures will be available when I load them up!!!
Teams - UCD: Pineapple Stu, Aberdonian Stu, Bald Student, Schumi, @ndy, John.
Cork - Colm, Éanna, Troy McClure and three others.
And City players, feel free to supply your player names and who did what which I can't remember.
So all together now -
[COLOR=blue][SIZE=4]5-4 to the boys in blue![/SIZE] [/COLOR]
