News & Fixtures

 

UCD Ladies faced their toughest test this weekend as they headed into a double weekend without 4 of their usual starting 11.

Irish internationals Chloe Watkins and Niamh Atcheler were unavailable due to an enforced rest week. Elite athlete Brenda Flannery missed out as she faces 6 weeks on the side-line due to a stress fracture in her ankle. And regular goalkeeper Stella Davis was unable to play as she suffered concussion during the week.

 

On Saturday against Glenanne, 2nds goalkeeper Alex Shirlow stepped between the posts for her 1st XI debut. On the day she was rarely called into action as UCD controlled much of the ball possession. In the end, Jess McMickan’s single goal was all that separated the two sides in a tie which could have produced more goals for UCD. McMickan scored from the clearest chance from play, scoring from a one-on-one situation to keep the students’ perfect record intact. The win saw UCD stay top of the table, level on 15points with Hermes and Loreto.

 

Sunday saw the students face an even tougher test as they lined out against Loreto, this time with 3rds keeper Louise Callan called upon. UCD were on the back foot from the first whistle as Loreto took control of the game early on. They missed a couple of clear cut goal opportunities before eventually opneing the scoring with a straight strike from a short corner. UCD came back into the game after conceding the first goal, but despite enjoying much of the ball possession and exerting plenty of pressure on the Loreto circle, no goal scoring chances were created. In the second half UCD dominated much of the game and were unlucky to go 2-0 down, again from a straight strike from a short corner. Subsequently Loreto had 2 players yellow carded but UCD failed to take advantage of this and the game ended with UCD's first loss of the season. After Hermes and Railway drew in the day's other game, it leaves UCD on 15points in 3rd place in the league, just 1 behind Hermes on 16 and 3 behind leaders Loreto now on 18.

 

UCD face Corinthians in their next league game next Saturday.