News & Fixtures

 

After a fantastic run of success and an important win at Sporting Fingal, UCD were unlucky to come away with no points from Hunky Dory Stadium

Located between the hospital and the cemetery, Drogheda United's ground has intimations of mortality. Not that UCD will have taken anything for granted despite beating the Drogs four times in the last four months.

Although things are still far from Hunky Dory at Drogheda, something is stirring since Darius Kierans took over and was immediately denied the status of manager because of the lack of a coaching certificate. But there he was on the bench, cajoling and berating his team, first in line for a handshake with Martin Russell at the final whistle, addressing the fans in the match programme. Mr Kierans is now listed as Director of Football and the manager, on paper at least, is Paul Lumsden from non League Glebe North, whose documentation is presumably kosher. The Irish have a long history of successfully subverting authority, my only surprise is that Drogheda initially chose confrontation.

Whoever's name is on the team sheet, when revival arrives as part of a club's culture some other club is going to experience the down draught. So, although either side could have won this game it was no real surprise that the home side ultimately prevailed. Perhaps they wanted it more.

United is good with titles. Joe Kendrick was listed as captain on the team sheet but UCD legend Alan McNally wore the armband and, inevitably, it was his goal that won the match. Kendrick spent much of the first half in animated conversation with his director of football about positional responsibilities and added to his woes by hitting a penalty wide on the half hour. But Kendrick survived the half time substitutions and went on to serve up the corner from which the points were secured.

The home side supplied the first goal threat, with Daly's dipping effort from the right turned over by Brennan. UCD's response was inspired by Mulhall; Kilduff, closed down, improvised a clever flick but Treacy got back to head the ball off the line. The Students were playing good passing football but there was little end product and Brennan was the busier keeper, getting down sharply to hold a fierce shot on the turn from another former UCD player, Paul Crowley. Then came Kendrick's penalty miss. Yet the visitors could have gone in ahead at half time but for a fine save by Paul Murphy who raced from his goal to block Kilduff's effort.

Sensing the possibility of victory at the interval, someone in the Drogheda dugout replaced Treacy and Brendan with Colm Smyth and Chris Kerr, both listed as A squad members on the United web site. Eric Gill moved to right back, O'Connor to midfield and Smyth joined Flood up front. It was a positive move, the sub striker making an immediate impact to force a brilliant full length save from Billy Brennan with a well directed header.

UCD were always a threat from set pieces. Kilduff headed just wide and almost scored, hitting a post after Murphy had blocked his initial close range effort. But it was Kendrick's flag kick from the right that settled matters after a period of pressure on the visitors' goal culminating in a facial injury to Nangle and a save from Brennan at the expense of the corner. The goal came whilst Nangle was off the pitch receiving treatment, McNally forcing the ball home from close range.

It's Bohs for UCD on Monday. They come from a home draw with Sporting Fingal whom the Students defeated last week. Anyone tempted to predict the result should remember that it's a funny old game.

DROGHEDA UTD: Paul Murphy; Corie Tracey (Colm Smyth h/t), Alan McNally, Mick Daly, Joe Kendrick; Ryan Brennan, Eric McGill, Paul Crowley, Brendan McGill (Chris Kerr h/t); Gareth O'Connor, John Flood.

UCD: Billy Brennan; Brian Shortall, Evan McMillan, Andy Boyle, Ciaran Nangle (Sean Harding 77); Keith Ward (Graham Rusk 62), Greg Bolger, Paul Corry; Chris Mulhall, Ciaran Kilduff, Dwayne Wilson.

Referee: Alan Kelly