Drogheda 0-1 UCD

**pineapple stu** · 04/09/2007, 9:11 PM

Ian Bermingham’s first goal for UCD ensured a surprise victory over a lethargic Drogheda United side in United Park on Monday. Barring the first five and the last ten minutes, UCD dominated throughout and were full value for their win.

UCD made several changes from the side beaten 3-0 in the League Cup semi on Tuesday – Darren Quigley was recalled in goal, Conan Byrne replaced Shane Fitzgerald on the right wing while Pat McWalter took over from the injured Derek Doyle on the left. Timmy Purcell got only his fourth start of the season up front in place of Ronan Finn, while the suspended Alan Mahon was replaced by the returning Alan McNally, with Conor Kenna moving out to right back.

Drogheda started strongly with Whelan getting a good chance only to shoot straight at Quigley, while UCD were dealt an early blow when Brian Shortall went down with concussion after a clash of heads just three minutes in. He lasted only a further seven minutes before being replaced by Paul Crowley, with Tony McDonnell dropping back to centre back.

UCD grew into the game as it went on, however, as Drogheda’s defenders showed a remarkable lack of ability to play the ball out of defence. With the Students winning far more than their fair share of 50/50 balls, the visitors began to pin their hosts back in their own half, although a couple of dangerous free kicks from Conan Byrne, which could have been attacked more, were as much danger as could be mustered early on. Tony McDonnell went close with a far post header when impeded by Alan McNally, while �amon Zayed spurned Drogheda’s best chance when ballooning over from ten yards after a mis-kick by McFaul.

However, the best chance of the first half came on the half hour when Conan Byrne struck a free from 25 yards which was destined for the top corner before Dan Connor managed to get a hand to the ball to turn it around for a corner.

UCD took the lead seven minutes into the second half. Timmy Purcell set Conan Byrne free, but his cross was deflected out for a corner. Byrne played it short out to Ian Bermingham, who tried his luck from 25 yards and saw the shot deflect off Zayed and go into the bottom corner.

UCD’s confidence was visibly rising, and Conor Kenna and then Conan Byrne tried their luck from distance with shots which, like Bermingham’s, were deflected, but this time, Connor was in place to deal with the shots.

On 78 minutes, Peter Hynes came on to replace Timmy Purcell, and almost scored with his first touch when his header into the ground from a Conan Byrne corner bounced up and off the bar; a corner was awarded with the ref deciding that Dan Connor had touched the ball over, although he looked well beaten. Three minutes later, Byrne teased his marker, whipped in another excellent cross and Brian Shelley only just managed to chest the ball back to his keeper with Conor Sammon lurking.

With Drogheda going three up front for the last five minutes, there was much more pressure in and around the UCD penalty area, and Conor Kenna had to be brace to block away Stuart Byrne’s piledriver, but still the hosts’ first final pass was lacking, while the defence were still content to hoof clearances aimlessly forward. The UCD defence was back to its usual imperious self, with Tony McDonnell, Conor Kenna, Alan McNally and the hobbling Ian Bermingham snuffing out Drogs’ attacks with clinical ease as the Students fairly comfortably held out for the three points.

UCD – Quigley; Kenna, Bermingham, McNally, Shortall (Crowley 10); McDonnell, C Byrne, McFaul, McWalter (Fitzgerald 72); Sammon, Purcell (Hynes 78). Subs not used – Finn, Gregg.