from the University Observer...
UCD 1-2 Shelbourne
UCD were sunk by a lucky late goal to lose 2-1 to Shelbourne in a largely uninspiring slog at Belfield Park on Saturday afternoon..
Glamourous is always too strong a word when when it comes to the eircom League, but the visit of Shelbourne does bring a certain profile, hubris and even a few supporters to Belfield Park, never more so than in the week when Anglo-Italian “lawyer” Giovanni di Stefano expressed his interest in becoming involved with the club. To sell his interest to a convicted swindler of such odious reputation within and without the game would be about the only thing that Shels owner Ollie Byrne could do that would render him more unpopular in the Irish football community.
And there was little in the Reds’ first half display to show what appeal the club held for di Stefano, a renowned publicity-seeker. That the game began some five minutes ahead of schedule did nothing to aid the university club’s efforts to secure public support for its new kick-off time at Saturday teatime, though any latecomers did not miss out on anything of note during the drab early exchanges.
With the visitors missing several important players through injury, the Students bossed the first half in terms of possession and territory, but struggled to create chances at goal against Shels’ experiences back line. Their new strike force of Paul Byrne and Conor Sammon, which helped itself to four goals in the previous home game against Bray, struggled to make any impact, though Sammon’s energy and tenacity stood out.
The best chance of the half was when Byrne swung at and missed Pat McWalter’s bobbling cross, which fell to him some fifteen yards out and central to the goal. Shelbourne’s goalkeeper Dean Delaney was only troubled by Byrne’s curling cross-shot, which threatened to drop into the corner of the net before the former Everton custodian intervened, then diving on the ball as it squirmed away from him.
The second half could scarcely have been any worse, and indeed Shelbourne began it showing far more purpose going forward as the game became more open. On 52 minutes Sammon was put through on goal with the first clear chance, but Delaney made a smart save low to his left, and moments later at the other end Jason Byrne beat the offside trap, but his heavy first touch allowed Darren Quigley to dive on the ball. Both players injured themselves in the clash, Byrne ultimately having to leave the pitch to be replaced by Glenn Crowe.
In the 27th minute of the half, Shelbourne took the lead when Ollie Cahill’s deep cross was met powerfully by the head of striker Gary O’Neill. The goal followed a spell of good pressure by the visitors, who suddenly attacked with renewed urgency.
But within seconds, UCD scored an equaliser. Again it was a firm header from a curling cross, as Derek Doyle leapt to redirect the ball towards the far post. Delaney got a hand to it and seemed to have performed a spectacular save, but was unable to claw the ball away and the referee indicated the ball had crossed the line before being hacked away.
UCD had offered little in the second half to merit the comeback, but Shels’ late winner was cruel nonetheless. Liam Kearney terrorised the Students when playing for Cork City last season, but he had had a quiet game until with five minutes remaining in the game, his volleyed pot-shot took a vicious bounce off a divot in the pitch and leapt over Quigley’s shoulder into the net. The goalie has been one of College’s best players in recent seasons, but was embarrassed by the unfortunate hop off the turf.
UCD will be disappointed at having failed to take advantage of what was a below par performance from one of the favourites for the league title, the defeat leaving them in the bottom half of the Premier League Table with seven points from their first seven matches.
UCD: Quigley; Mahon, Ryan, Shorthall, McNally; D.Doyle, Cawley (Dicker 84’), McDonnell, McWalter; P.Byrne (Hurley 63’), Sammon.
Shelbourne: Delaney; Heary, Dillon, Harris, Crawley (Rogers 90’); S.Byrne, Reynolds, Kearney, Cahill; J.Byrne (Crowe 60’), O’Neill.
