Derry City 0-0 UCD
Friday, 12 October 2007 23:43
UCD's positive record at Derry City continued as Pete Mahon's men claimed another point from their fourth trip to the Brandywell this season.
Having ended Derry's FAI Cup hopes a few weeks ago at this venue, Mahon will be delighted to have taken a share of the spoils.
And the point earned could well guarantee that the Students will not be involved in any relegation dogfight and, indeed, now concentrate on their forthcoming FAI Cup semi-final against Longford Town.
In what was a bitterly disappointing match overall, Derry opted for a new 4-3-3 system but having lost both Paddy McCourt and Ken Oman during the first half to injury, the home side struggled in the vital areas.
Before McCourt limped off with what appeared a hamstring problem in the 25th minute, he went close to breaking the deadlock but his angled shot sailed agonisingly over the crossbar.
And three minutes later a low cross by Gareth McGlynn saw the advancing Kevin Deery failing to get the all-important touch in the box.
UCD's only scoring chance in the opening period arrived in the 40th minute when Conan Byrne's cross from the right ended when Conor Sammon's volley was blocked by the legs of Derry keeper Pat Jennings.
After the break it was more of the same, the home side dominating possession but their final ball constantly let them down.
Kevin McHugh forced UCD keeper Darren Quigley into a save in the 51st minute and the Derry striker was presented with another chance eight minutes later but he delayed his shot allowing a defender to get back and make a block.
Content to flood the midfield area and get large numbers behind the ball, seeking to hit on the break full-back, Alan Mahon drilled a low shot through a forest of legs in the 70th minute but Jennings got down well to save.
With just one minute remaining UCD could so easily have stolen the points when Sammon worked his way through but Derry's Peter Hutton played a captain's role when producing a superb last-ditch tackle.
Match report from RTE.ie robbed by me for the benefit of Foot.ie readers everywhere. There was no trouble from the visiting UCD support.
No Inns, bars or hostelries in Derry were harmed by the visiting UCD fans, and none were arrested.
UCD showing other clubs how it's done on and OFF the field:D
13/10/2007, 3:06 PM
DmanDmythDledge
Tony Mc, Conan, Finn and Sammo singled out for having good games on the Derry forum.
14/10/2007, 11:00 AM
pineapple stu
UCD concluded an unbeaten trio of league games against last season's runners up with a tame end-of-season 0-0 draw in the Brandywell on Friday night. Although Derry had more of the possession, especially in the second half, they created very little with it, and UCD could even have stolen a win in the dying moments.
With Shane McFaul suspended and Ian Bermingham down with the flu, Tony McDonnell and Killian Gallagher were recalled to the starting line up as UCD again lined up with a 4-4-1-1 formation.
Derry in particular struggled for any sort of rhythm, and weren't helped by the first half departures of Pat McCourt and Ken Oman through injury. McCourt could have opened the scoring before going off, when he found space on the right of the box but blazed his shot over. At the other end, Derry keeper Pat Jennings had to go down bravely at the feet of Conor Sammon after a low cross from the left.
The second half saw a few more chances, with Derry increasingly dominating possession, but the Students breaking dangerously when they could. Kevin McHugh twice got in behind the defence but was well denied on both occasions, while for UCD, Killian Gallagher was causing problems at the other end, with one winding 30 yard run ending in him being fouled in the D by the increasingly desperate Derry defence. Another free from 25 yards saw Alan Mahon try his luck after being set up, but his low shot was well held by Jennings.
As the game came towards the end, Derry continued to press, and some excellent defending by, in particular, Conor Kenna and Alan McNally was needed to hold them at bay. And in the last minute, UCD could have won the three points when Conor Sammon found space to run outside the box - he went past two Derry defenders, but Peter Hutton put in an excellent tackle right on the edge of the box, when any sort of slip would have meant a certain goal.
Overall, another point towards confirming league safety, with other results going well at the weekend, but not much more to write home about than that.
UCD: Quigley; Mahon, McNally, Kenna, Gallagher; Byrne, King (Bolger, 68 mins.), McDonnell (McMillan, 87 mins.), Finn (Purcell, 84 mins.), McWalter; Sammon. Subs not used - Byrne, Gregg
