UCD 5 - 0 Kildare County
Credit:
UCD remain top of the League of Ireland First Division after
comfortably beating Kildare County at the Belfield Bowl on Friday
night. Two goals apiece for Dave McMillan and Ciarán Kilduff, and a
late strike from skipper Ronan Finn, saw UCD win the three points and
also add a considerable total to their goal difference. With things
being so tight at the top of the First Division, goal difference could
become important by the end of the season, so UCD’s five-goal haul
will have helped their cause.
UCD manager Martin Russell named an unchanged side to the team that beat Finn Harps 5-0, while Kildare boss, Paul Sommerville, chose to make four changes from the side that beat Longford Town in midweek. Captain Dean Lawrence, Gavin Kinsella, Craig Purcell and David Long all came in for Trevor Bowers, Cathal Brady, Liam Tiernan and Orrin Farrell.
Unfortunately for County, the changes made to the line-up had little effect as UCD took the lead after only just five minutes. There appeared to be no danger on the Kildare goal when a Brian Shorthall ball forward was cut out by Baba Isaaka, but the Ghanaian clumsily lost possession to Ronan Finn. The UCD skipper had his first cross blocked, but his second attempt found Dave McMillan at the far post and the Dubliner had the simple task of tapping home.
Things got worse for County only six minutes later. Evan McMillan picked the ball up inside the Kildare half in time and space. His long diagonal cross into the box was flicked on by Kilduff, and for the second time, Dave McMillan snuck in at the far post to make it 2-0. After just eleven minutes, it looked like the Students would hammer a lacklustre Kildare side. For Sommerville, who was serving the first of a two game touchline ban, it must have been tough to watch his side being ripped apart so easily.
On 15 minutes, Paul Corry slipped in Peter McMahon from a free, but McMahon failed to capitalise as Kildare keeper Darren Kelly spread himself well to save from the UCD forward. Kildare threatened the UCD goal for the first time on 18 minutes, David Long’s run forward was only halted by a good tackle by Andy Boyle after the midfielder had almost created a chance out of nothing. UCD later exposed Kildare’s weakness under the high ball. First, Kilduff had a header flash wide, before Evan McMillan headed a Paul Corry corner wide from inside the six yard box.
UCD had further chances to extend their lead through a Ronan Finn volley, but it was Kilduff who was guilty of missing a simple tap-in after Finn had provided the striker with what appeared to be a simple chance. With just 40 minutes on the clock, the temporary management team of Keith O’Halloran and Jimmy Kelly made a double substitution; Trevor Bowers and Cathal Brady replacing Darren O’Brien and Gavin Kinsella. Making these changes before half-time was clearly an attempt to get a reaction from the Kildare team, but no reaction was apparent as UCD entered the break with a two-goal lead.
UCD made it 3-0 just eight minutes into the second half. A simple free kick inside his own half by Shorthall found Kilduff, and as the Kildare defence went missing again, UCD’s top scorer latched onto the ball and shot past Kelly at his near post. The goal was deserved for Kilduff, who earlier had missed some chances.
After 70 minutes, Kilduff notched his twelfth league goal of the season. Paul Corrys corner was only cleared as far as Chris Mulhall and the substitute fierce strike was saved by Kelly. However, the goalkeeper managed to palm the ball straight to Kilduff and the striker reacted quickest to the rebound to head in his second and UCD’s fourth.
Things got worse for Kildare as Craig Purcell was sent-off for a dangerous and late tackle on David McMillan on 73 minutes. The red card was a sign of the frustration felt amongst the Kildare players as it was clear to all at the Bowl that UCD were outclassing their opponents with relative ease and little effort. UCD continued to push forward, substitute Greg Bolger nearly finding the top corner of the net after a good spell of UCD possession. Finn’s snapshot was saved by the feet of Kelly, while the keeper also managed to tip an Evan McMillan header around his right hand post.
However, UCD managed to record their second five goal haul in a week after 86 minutes. Kildare failed to deal with another UCD set-piece, and after Evan McMillan squared the ball across the penalty area, Finn placed the ball past Kelly from 10 yards out to get the goal his performance deserved. Indeed, Finn nearly scored a wonder strike after volleying Greg Bolger’s corner narrowly over the crossbar in the final minute of the game.
UCD next face Shelbourne in what could be a decider in the race for the First Division league title. This victory will give UCD great confidence ahead of their journey to Tolka Park next Friday, and having recorded two 5-0 wins in a row, UCD will be fancied to gain something from the crucial Dublin derby.
UCD: Barron; Shorthall, Boyle, E McMillan, Nangle (Harding 72); Reilly (Mulhall 56), Corry, Finn, D McMillan; McMahon (Bolger 67), Kilduff.
Subs Not Used: Brennan, Rusk.
Kildare County: Darren Kelly; Daly, Lawrence (Byrne 60), Isaaka, Doran; Kinsella (Bowers 40), O’Brien (Brady 40), Jackson, Long; Purcell, Hughes.
Subs Not Used: Farrell, Powderly.
UCD manager Martin Russell named an unchanged side to the team that beat Finn Harps 5-0, while Kildare boss, Paul Sommerville, chose to make four changes from the side that beat Longford Town in midweek. Captain Dean Lawrence, Gavin Kinsella, Craig Purcell and David Long all came in for Trevor Bowers, Cathal Brady, Liam Tiernan and Orrin Farrell.
Unfortunately for County, the changes made to the line-up had little effect as UCD took the lead after only just five minutes. There appeared to be no danger on the Kildare goal when a Brian Shorthall ball forward was cut out by Baba Isaaka, but the Ghanaian clumsily lost possession to Ronan Finn. The UCD skipper had his first cross blocked, but his second attempt found Dave McMillan at the far post and the Dubliner had the simple task of tapping home.
Things got worse for County only six minutes later. Evan McMillan picked the ball up inside the Kildare half in time and space. His long diagonal cross into the box was flicked on by Kilduff, and for the second time, Dave McMillan snuck in at the far post to make it 2-0. After just eleven minutes, it looked like the Students would hammer a lacklustre Kildare side. For Sommerville, who was serving the first of a two game touchline ban, it must have been tough to watch his side being ripped apart so easily.
On 15 minutes, Paul Corry slipped in Peter McMahon from a free, but McMahon failed to capitalise as Kildare keeper Darren Kelly spread himself well to save from the UCD forward. Kildare threatened the UCD goal for the first time on 18 minutes, David Long’s run forward was only halted by a good tackle by Andy Boyle after the midfielder had almost created a chance out of nothing. UCD later exposed Kildare’s weakness under the high ball. First, Kilduff had a header flash wide, before Evan McMillan headed a Paul Corry corner wide from inside the six yard box.
UCD had further chances to extend their lead through a Ronan Finn volley, but it was Kilduff who was guilty of missing a simple tap-in after Finn had provided the striker with what appeared to be a simple chance. With just 40 minutes on the clock, the temporary management team of Keith O’Halloran and Jimmy Kelly made a double substitution; Trevor Bowers and Cathal Brady replacing Darren O’Brien and Gavin Kinsella. Making these changes before half-time was clearly an attempt to get a reaction from the Kildare team, but no reaction was apparent as UCD entered the break with a two-goal lead.
UCD made it 3-0 just eight minutes into the second half. A simple free kick inside his own half by Shorthall found Kilduff, and as the Kildare defence went missing again, UCD’s top scorer latched onto the ball and shot past Kelly at his near post. The goal was deserved for Kilduff, who earlier had missed some chances.
After 70 minutes, Kilduff notched his twelfth league goal of the season. Paul Corrys corner was only cleared as far as Chris Mulhall and the substitute fierce strike was saved by Kelly. However, the goalkeeper managed to palm the ball straight to Kilduff and the striker reacted quickest to the rebound to head in his second and UCD’s fourth.
Things got worse for Kildare as Craig Purcell was sent-off for a dangerous and late tackle on David McMillan on 73 minutes. The red card was a sign of the frustration felt amongst the Kildare players as it was clear to all at the Bowl that UCD were outclassing their opponents with relative ease and little effort. UCD continued to push forward, substitute Greg Bolger nearly finding the top corner of the net after a good spell of UCD possession. Finn’s snapshot was saved by the feet of Kelly, while the keeper also managed to tip an Evan McMillan header around his right hand post.
However, UCD managed to record their second five goal haul in a week after 86 minutes. Kildare failed to deal with another UCD set-piece, and after Evan McMillan squared the ball across the penalty area, Finn placed the ball past Kelly from 10 yards out to get the goal his performance deserved. Indeed, Finn nearly scored a wonder strike after volleying Greg Bolger’s corner narrowly over the crossbar in the final minute of the game.
UCD next face Shelbourne in what could be a decider in the race for the First Division league title. This victory will give UCD great confidence ahead of their journey to Tolka Park next Friday, and having recorded two 5-0 wins in a row, UCD will be fancied to gain something from the crucial Dublin derby.
UCD: Barron; Shorthall, Boyle, E McMillan, Nangle (Harding 72); Reilly (Mulhall 56), Corry, Finn, D McMillan; McMahon (Bolger 67), Kilduff.
Subs Not Used: Brennan, Rusk.
Kildare County: Darren Kelly; Daly, Lawrence (Byrne 60), Isaaka, Doran; Kinsella (Bowers 40), O’Brien (Brady 40), Jackson, Long; Purcell, Hughes.
Subs Not Used: Farrell, Powderly.
