News & Fixtures

 

UCD hosted Monaghan United last weekend as they prepared for their season in the League of Ireland Premership.

UCD                            (1) 2     MONAGHAN UNITED                     (0) 0

Rusk 1, Harding (pen) 61

 

Maybe it was the environment.   With rugby still centre stage at the Bowl, this pre-season spin was played on the

Fosters Avenue

pitch, tree lined and idyllically sited in the green fields of academia.   A good surface but none of the brouhaha that goes with the League of Ireland.

 

Monaghan did the warm up but were, perhaps, lulled into a sense of rustic security when referee Paul Tuite blew his whistle to start proceedings.   From the kick off a quick free kick and UCD were buzzing.   A long ball tested United full back Stefan McKevitt who opted to head behind.   Custom and practice from the coaching manual.   No danger.   But McMahon and Mulhall spoofed the short corner on the left and when the decoy sprinted away McMahon hit a low ball into the goalmouth for Graham Rusk to convert from a yard out at the near post with the Monaghan defence still acclimatising.

 

Manager Mick Cooke soon reminded his men that this was real football not fantasy football and we had an hour of fast paced, skilful, competitive fare to enjoy.   The Students were without skipper Evan McMillan, returning from long term injury and keeper Barron and midfielder Corry, both rested after their endeavours in the successful quest for the Harding Cup in Galway last weekend.   Monaghan, who finished fifth in the First Division, retained most of the squad that performed so creditably last term; the newcomers were keeper Darren Kelly from Kildare County and the enigmatic striker Philly Hughes.

 

Kelly was busy enough during the first period to warrant measuring his weight loss on his second half substitution.   Creevy was exonerated from Monaghan claims that he was offside but seemed to lose heart when one on one with the keeper who denied his tentative effort.     Then the unfortunate McKevitt earned his manager ’ s displeasure when he allowed the gangling Kilduff to ease him off a bouncing ball and descend on Kelly ’ s goal.   But the keeper belied his bulk by nimbly retreating to catch Kilduff ’ s canny lob before it could register.   Indeed it was Monaghan who came closest to scoring after 27 minutes when Hughes cut in from the right only for the onrushing Brennan to deflect his effort into the side netting with a well disposed knee.

 

With the Students in control but Monaghan no mugs there was plenty to engage the attention but nothing of significance until a spaniel ventured on to the pitch but, like the good college dog it undoubtedly was, politely left the playing area before causing the officials any concern,

 

At the interval UCD brought on David McMillan and Stephen Roche and switched from conventional 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 which, because of the fine fitness levels already achieved by Mr Russell ’ s merry men, is instantly transformed to 4-5-1 when danger threatens.   The manager has his flank strikers hugging the touchlines, using every inch of the width of the pitch, creating space and making for exciting movement on and off the ball.   Monaghan had to follow suit eventually, moving winger Barry Clancy in to supplement the engine room with the promising Daragh Hanaphy and Philip Donnelly entering the fray on the flanks.

 

But the match was really over on the hour when Ciaran Nangle cut into the penalty area at speed.   Keeper Kelly stretched to save his fierce drive but referee Tuite penalised the tackle from behind that floored Nangle as he shot.   Sean Harding stepped up to convert the spot kick low to the keeper ’ s right.

 

UCD immediately sprang four subs from what would have been the bench had such sophistication existed pitch side.   Houston, Matthews, Ward and keeper McGinley got a chance to strut their stuff.   The young custodian was not much exercised during his spell in the limelight but caught the eye by never conceding possession in open play through the simple expedient of rolling the ball to his nearest free colleague.   Ward, all tricks and grins, raised the spirit without, on this occasion, much in the way of end product.

 

It was again Monaghan ’ s Hughes who had the best chance of affecting the final score when he scuffed a free kick from the edge of the box wide with ten minutes left.   By then the spaniel had been subbed in favour of a large black poodle that studiously ignored all the huffing and puffing on the pitch.   They say every dog has his day.   This one was clearly not as impressed as I was as UCD, fleet of foot and focused made an admirable start to their preparations for the return to the Premier stage.   Onward to Longford for the next stage of the run in next Saturday.

 

UCD: Billy Brennan (Mark McGinley 61); Sean Harding, Brian Shorthall (Capt.), Andrew Boyle, Ciaran Nangle (Gareth Matthews 61); Robbie Creevy (Stephen Roche h/t), Greg Bolger, Peter McMahon (Keith Ward 61), Graham Rusk (David McMillan h/t); Chris Mulhall (Mark Russell 72), Ciaran Kilduff (Sean Heuston 61).

 

MONAGHAN UTD: Darren Kelly (Gabriel Sava 67); Stefan McKevitt, Aidan Lynch, Brian Gartland (Conor McMahon h/t), Shane Grimes; Cathal O ’ Connor (Philip Donnelly 70), Don Tierney (Capt.), Stephen McCrossan (Alan Byrne h/t), Barry Clancy; Philly Hughes, Karl Bermingham (Daragh Hanaphy 66).

 

Referee: Paul Tuite.        

By BRIAN de SALVO