UCD 2-2 Longford

**pineapple stu** · 28/04/2007, 1:04 AM

A last gasp Conor Sammon goal snatched a point for UCD and saved keeper Matt Gregg's blushed in an entertaining tie against Longford Town tonight.

With Pete Mahon putting out the same team which had won in Derry the previous week, confidence was high in the UCD camp, and it was justified on 20 minutes when Conan Byrne won a tackle on the edge of the Longford area, and Paul Byrne picked up the loose ball to curl home superbly for the opener, his third in four games.

Byrne could have made it two just a few minutes later, but his header was unconvincinly dealt with by Shay Kelly in the Town net. Longford had their chances too, in particular when a shot on the far post went right across the UCD six yard box without anyone getting a touch.

A minute into the second half, Paul Byrne was again causing trouble when he burst forward only to drive just wide from 20 yards. But Longford were lever a few minutes later when Robbie Martin was given the freedom of the six yard box to turn and place his shot past the despairing dive of Matt Gregg.

There was nothing Gregg could have done about the goal; however, the big keeper was definitely at fault for the second goal when he spilled a low cross from the right, and John Reilly gleefully tapped home the rebound.

UCD responded, and almost had an equaliser within a matter of minutes when Conan Byrne played Conor Sammon through, but Shay Kelly rushed out of his box to clear the danger; the ball came back to Shane McFaul, whose shot was straight at Kelly.

Ronan Finn was introduced to held UCD's attack, and he was involved in UCD's next move when his clever flick caught the Town defence square, but Conor Sammon scuffed his shot. And two minutes later, Paul Byrne set up Finn, but his shot was deflected over the bar for a corner.

Longford became more defensive as the half wore on, and the last five minutes in particular were constant UCD pressure. It paid off in the second minute of injury time, when Ian Bermingham's cross was nodded home by Sammon at the near post.

UCD - Gregg; Mahon, Bermingham, Kenna, McNally; Crowley (Purcell 80), C Byrne, McFaul (Finn 65), Doyle (McDonnell 80); P Byrne, Sammon. SUbs not used - Quigley, McMillan

Att - 410

**Sonic** · 28/04/2007, 8:38 AM

Yez flucky crowd of *****s

**CollegeTillIDie** · 28/04/2007, 8:46 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

A last gasp Conor Sammon goal snatched a point for UCD and saved keeper Matt Gregg's blushed in an entertaining tie against Longford Town tonight.

With Pete Mahon putting out the same team which had won in Derry the previous week, confidence was high in the UCD camp, and it was justified on 20 minutes when Conan Byrne won a tackle on the edge of the Longford area, and Paul Byrne picked up the loose ball to curl home superbly for the opener, his third in four games.

Byrne could have made it two just a few minutes later, but his header was unconvincinly dealt with by Shay Kelly in the Town net. Longford had their chances too, in particular when a shot on the far post went right across the UCD six yard box without anyone getting a touch.

A minute into the second half, Paul Byrne was again causing trouble when he burst forward only to drive just wide from 20 yards. But Longford were lever a few minutes later when Robbie Martin was given the freedom of the six yard box to turn and place his shot past the despairing dive of Matt Gregg.

There was nothing Gregg could have done about the goal; however, the big keeper was definitely at fault for the second goal when he spilled a low cross from the right, and John Reilly gleefully tapped home the rebound.

UCD responded, and almost had an equaliser within a matter of minutes when Conan Byrne played Conor Sammon through, but Shay Kelly rushed out of his box to clear the danger; the ball came back to Shane McFaul, whose shot was straight at Kelly.

Ronan Finn was introduced to held UCD's attack, and he was involved in UCD's next move when his clever flick caught the Town defence square, but Conor Sammon scuffed his shot. And two minutes later, Paul Byrne set up Finn, but his shot was deflected over the bar for a corner.

Longford became more defensive as the half wore on, and the last five minutes in particular were constant UCD pressure. It paid off in the second minute of injury time, when Ian Bermingham's cross was nodded home by Sammon at the near post.

UCD - Gregg; Mahon, Bermingham, Kenna, McNally; Crowley (Purcell 80), C Byrne, McFaul (Finn 65), Doyle (McDonnell 80); P Byrne, Sammon. SUbs not used - Quigley, McMillan

Att - 410

We'd have got nothing from the game this time last year. Showed a bit of character to salvage a point.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 28/04/2007, 10:05 AM

Type of game we should be winning.

**Burnsie** · 28/04/2007, 11:24 AM

pretty much the worst defensive performance i've seen from a ucd side - martin's goal was absolutely shocking. actually left before the equaliser as i had somewhere to be , but from what i saw we couldn't have complained had we come out of this empty-handed, even against a weak side

**CollegeTillIDie** · 28/04/2007, 11:29 AM

The type of game we would have lost last season .

**CollegeTillIDie** · 28/04/2007, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Sonic

Yez flucky crowd of *****s

It's flukey... sheesh don't they teach spelling in primary school anymore?

**DmanDmythDledge** · 28/04/2007, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

The type of game we would have lost last season.

What do you mean? Don't remember losing teams like Longford last season.

**Sonic** · 28/04/2007, 11:38 AM

ye lucky *****s

**Schumi** · 28/04/2007, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Sonic

ye lucky *****s

In fairness, your second goal was pretty lucky too.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 28/04/2007, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Sonic

ye lucky *****s

Lucky? You're the ones that needed errors from the other team to score.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 28/04/2007, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

What do you mean? Don't remember losing teams like Longford last season.

I mean the type of game where we were on top in the first half and went out of it almost totally in the second half, gave away two soft goals

**Schumi** · 28/04/2007, 12:08 PM

We were so bad that we didn't really deserve the draw but I don't think Longford were really good enough to deserve a win either.

I've never seen our defence so hesitant and the amount of time that Robbie Martin had to turn the whole way around and score the first was criminal.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 28/04/2007, 12:42 PM

On another note good to see our strikers continuing to get goals. 3 in 4 for Byrne now and 2 in 3 for Sammon.

**Poor Student** · 28/04/2007, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Sonic

ye lucky *****s

Says the fan of the team who went ahead due to an absolute clanger by the keeper.

I agree with CTID's sentiment. While terribly disappointed to go behind, especially in that fashion, I was delighted to see us fight for the point until the death. I can think of two games in Dalymount last season against Bohs and Dublin City where we went behind after leading only to capitulate all points.

I hope Tony Mac will come back into this team to add some sterness back into our game.

**Aberdonian Stu** · 28/04/2007, 3:11 PM

We didn't show that much character. Sammo pulled out of a challenge with the keeper which he should have fought for and that was typical of the second half performance. The lads were like statues at times.

**pineapple stu** · 28/04/2007, 7:25 PM

Anyone else reckon that Tony Mac's introduction completely changed the second half?

Nothing necessarily fluky about a last minute equaliser. Thought a draw was fair, and Longford were hanging on for the last few minutes, having shots from 60 yards just to waste time and stuff.

By the way, CTID - there's no need to quote my entire article and then posting about something completely different! Just creating extra text to scroll through.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 28/04/2007, 7:40 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Anyone else reckon that Tony Mac's introduction completely changed the second half?

Nothing necessarily fluky about a last minute equaliser. Thought a draw was fair, and Longford were hanging on for the last few minutes, having shots from 60 yards just to waste time and stuff.

By the way, CTID - there's no need to quote my entire article and then posting about something completely different! Just creating extra text to scroll through.

I was using your article to illustrate my point... besides it was too good to edit