UCD 3-0 Waterford

**DmanDmythDledge** · 06/04/2007, 9:38 PM

A win at last.

**Poor Student** · 06/04/2007, 9:43 PM

You missed Bogdan's debut start. Shame on you. His genius trickery lead to the corner which gave us our first goal.

We weren't that good to be honest. Waterford had two chances cleared off the line. They are pretty awful though.

**superfrank** · 06/04/2007, 10:21 PM

Well I was wrong. And judging by our performance tonight you'll get another 3 points on Thursday night.

**pineapple stu** · 06/04/2007, 11:50 PM

Told you so! And Paul Byrne's back too.

Although I must say I don't think Waterford were as bad as is being made out, especially in the first half.

A brace from Paul Byrne - his first goals in almost a year - helped UCD record their first win of the season with a victory which was somewhat harsh on the visitors from Waterford. In the end, UCD's more clinical finishing was the difference between the two teams, as Waterford had good chances to score - notably in the first half - but just couldn't capitalise.

After scoring just two goals in the opening four games, Pete Mahon changed his attacking line-up, with Bogdan Oprea and Timmy Purcell making their first starts for the club in place of Derek Doyle and Conor Sammon.

Waterford had the better of the opening chances, with Evan McMillan's short backpass letting Paul McCarthy in one-on-one on Matt Gregg, but Gregg saved with his feet right on the edge of his box. And five minutes after that, McCarthy again had a chance to put the Blues ahead when Gregg missed a cross, but Alan McNally was on the line to clear.

UCD took the lead on the 25th minute. Good work from Bogdan enabled him to skip past two Waterford defenders and put in a deep cross, which Conan Byrne, with his back to goal, hooked over his shoulder, and Waterford keeper Dean Delaney had to react well to tip the ball over the bar. From the resulting corner, however, Byrne was on hand to head home for his first goal since the 2005 League Cup Final.

Five minutes later again, College were well in the driving seat when Tim Purcell found Paul Byrne in space, and he finished clinically from the edge of the area for his first goal since the away game against Dublin City last June.

Waterford were still fighting at this stage, and again the UCD defence had to clear off their own line after Matt Gregg could only punch a cross from the right clear to a white shirt.

After the break, the game quietened down, although Conan Byrne was desperately unlucky not to score when his shot from the edge of the area crashed off the top of the bar. But the points were sealed with minutes remaining when Paul Byrne went past one defender and unleashed a shot from the 25 yards which flew into the top corner, leaving Delaney no chance.

UCD: Gregg, Mahon (Bermingham 90), McMillan, Kenna, McNally, Crowley (King 90), C Byrne, Finn, P Byrne, Purcell, Oprea (Doyle 65).

**pineapple stu** · 07/04/2007, 12:00 AM

Two points of note, incidentally. Conor Sammon was apparently left out of the squad because he was late, ad we'e now scored more goals than all bar three teams in the division.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 07/04/2007, 6:48 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

You missed Bogdan's debut start. Shame on you. His genius trickery lead to the corner which gave us our first goal.

We weren't that good to be honest. Waterford had two chances cleared off the line. They are pretty awful though.

I'll take a 3-0 win every day we were totally in control in the second half.

What's Bermingham's first name? I didn't catch it on the PA.

**Burnsie** · 07/04/2007, 9:27 AM

Ian Bermingham I think

**Poor Student** · 07/04/2007, 9:56 AM

Despite Bohs fans' reservations about him, Gregg is proving to be a solid signing. Pity about the dodgy defending that called him into action once or twice. I'm still pretty confused about Quigley's absence though.

Oprea looked pretty good. Some very entertaining tricks but I'd have preferred to see the ball fed to him a bit more. Conan did very well again. He works hard, gets himself into space and looks for the ball and in spite of his pace he does manage to get around men.

Hopefully we can get Tony Mac back in the middle. I don't think Crowley and Finn will control the midfield against better opposition. 3-0 is a great confidence building result in any case. Hopepfully we can beat Bray next week and the season's start won't look so bad.

**Burnsie** · 07/04/2007, 11:52 AM

cregg came off his line magnificently a couple of times, but he never looked too convincing when coming to punch and his kicking was fairly dodgy. i'll reserve judgment.

bogdan looks a player if we can get him into the game a bit more, and i was quite impressed with purcell stepping into the sammo role, bothering defenders and linking play up.

finishing aside, this was a poor display though. waterford were gash.

**Poor Student** · 07/04/2007, 11:59 AM

I didn't notice the Million Dollar* Man's kicking to be that much of a problem. It's good to know we've got an experienced person to call upon at the very least. It also helps to have some senior heads in the squad with so much inexperience around.

*�400k in New Zealand Dollars

**lefty** · 07/04/2007, 12:45 PM

Very poor match, we deserved the win, but to be honest that was my first match of the season and there wasnt much there to write home about. Waterford were like a non league team for their part and looked like they didnt even want to be there

**DmanDmythDledge** · 07/04/2007, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Burnsie

cregg came off his line magnificently a couple of times, but he never looked too convincing when coming to punch and his kicking was fairly dodgy.

I've got the same impression of him.

Good to see PB getting amongst the goals once again. Now that he has got one I'm sure they will keep coming. He has the potential to be a ten goal a season striker at the very least, and now that he has gotten over his injury problems he can solve our goalscoring problem.

How was the defence? Solid? What were we like in midfield, particularly the centre midfield partnership?

Anyone catch the unused subs or official attendence?

**Poor Student** · 07/04/2007, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

Good to see PB getting amongst the goals once again. Now that he has got one I'm sure they will keep coming. He has the potential to be a ten goal a season striker at the very least, and now that he has gotten over his injury problems he can solve our goalscoring problem.

It remains to be seen whether it was one off or not. His second goal was top drawer. More of that kind of shooting would give us more options. I thought Purcell settled in well beisde him. It'd be interesting to see Purcell and Sammo together.

How was the defence? Solid? What were we like in midfield, particularly the centre midfield partnership?

A bit dodgy at times. Gregg had to do well to stop an intercepted backpass from McMillan that fell well short, a situation that was a result of a terrible clearance/pass by Alan Mahon.

Anyone catch the unused subs or official attendence?

Schumi's guess was about 400. A good colourful presence of Waterford fans. The unused subs were Fran Moran and Darren Quigley.

**pineapple stu** · 07/04/2007, 12:54 PM

Unused subs were Quigley and Moran.

Defence was a bit shaky, which resulted in Waterford having some decent chances in the first half, but at least we got back to clear off the line each time.

Still, we howed more in attack than in the pervious few games this season, which is a positive.

**Stephen123** · 07/04/2007, 1:17 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

. I'm still pretty confused about Quigley's absence though..

Quigley officially isn't playing because he took a knock recently. That's what is being said anyway.

Unofficially there are one or two rumours that i've heard that he's turned into a big time charlie from his trials pre season abroad, and thinks he is too big for the club. He may be being thought a lesson by Mahon by leaving him on the bench.