| Competition: League of Ireland Premier Division Venue: The UCD Bowl Attendance: 378 Referee: Nick Pratt (FAW) | ||
 U.C.D Mick Leahy - Yellow Card (33') Daniel Ledwith - Yellow Card (62') Daniel Ledwith - Goal (69') Samir Belhout - Yellow Card (81') |
Fri 27 Apr 20121 - 1(Full Time) |
 Drogheda United Alan McNally - Goal (83') Sean Brennan - Yellow Card (86') |
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Game Matchtracker
U.C.D 1 - 1 Drogheda United 90' + 3' - Full Time - And that's the game! 1-1, probably a fair result though both teams had chances to win it, and plenty of them towards the end. The quality might have diminished slightly in the second half but that meant the chances starting flowing.
U.C.D 1 - 1 Drogheda United
90' + 1' - And another glorious chances goes a begging as Alan McNally (I think) has a header cleared off the line. So many last ditch clearances. This is extremely exciting, and could still go either way.
U.C.D 1 - 1 Drogheda United
89' - Paul Corry weighs up a stab from distance but it's more aggravated assault than the real thing, going just wide of Gabriel Sava's goal. Three minutes of injury time for the either team to win it.
U.C.D 1 - 1 Drogheda United
88' - A goal mouth scramble in the Drogheda United area is cleared off the line but the referee had blown for a free out for pushing a moment before so, you know, I've an excuse for not really seeing what was happening or who headed it. 
U.C.D 1 - 1 Drogheda United 86' - Yellow Card - Drogheda substitue Sean Brennan picks up a booking.
U.C.D 1 - 1 Drogheda United
85' - Oh it is pumping in Belfield, much like a Rihanna beat. Cillian Morrison plays a ball square from the right and a second goal seems sure for UCD as Graham Rusk comes to meet it... But he skies his effort from three yards out and it remains level.
U.C.D 1 - 1 Drogheda United
84' - A corner from the left went deep to the back post. Sean Brennan headed back across and McNally put the finishing touch on it. 
U.C.D 1 - 1 Drogheda United 83' - Goal - An equaliser for the Drogs through captain Alan McNally.
U.C.D 1 - 0 Drogheda United 81' - Yellow Card - Samir Belhout takes a late swipe on a Drogs defender as the ball is cleared and earns himself a yellow card only minutes after coming on. The Drogs continue to push up.
U.C.D 1 - 0 Drogheda United
77' - I am out of breath. My fingers are cold but battering the keyboard here. Drogheda are pressing and pressing but UCD are still ahead through their goal which was, even Martin Russell would admit, slightly against the run of play. Both sides have played their three substitutions so, with the flop on the table, there is only time for both teams to show their cards. 
U.C.D 1 - 0 Drogheda United 75' - Substitution - Drogheda Sub - Cathal Brady comes on for Stephen Quigley.
U.C.D 1 - 0 Drogheda United
74' - Derek Prendergast hits the bar for the Drogs. An Eric Foley ball across find another melée but Prendergast gets the touch. Yet it comes back and the defender rues the missed opportunity.
U.C.D 1 - 0 Drogheda United 73' - Substitution - Drogheda Sub - And it's Brennan for Brennan for Drogheda as Sean replaces Ryan.
U.C.D 1 - 0 Drogheda United 73' - Substitution - UCD Sub - Samir Belhout comes on for Chris Lyons.
U.C.D 1 - 0 Drogheda United
72' - Tiernan Mulvenna is played in and puts the ball cooly past Mark McGinley - but it comes back off the post. WHAT FEVERED DREAM IS THIS, I ask!? A game.
U.C.D 1 - 0 Drogheda United
70' - Chris Lyons broke from around the centre of midfield and fed Graham Rusk. Rusk tried to go through everyone a la Lionel Messi or me aged nine. He was tackled but the ball broke left to the onrushing Ledwith. The full back then cut inside and finished with a beautiful curling effort around the stretching Gabriel Sava.
U.C.D 1 - 0 Drogheda United 69' - Goal - We have a breakthrough! Daniel Ledwith scores for UCD!
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United 65' - Substitution - Drogheda Sub - Peter Hynes comes on for Declan 'Fabio' O'Brien.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
64' - It's all go! Drogheda's Ryan Brennan finds room to turn just outside the UCD area and drives a very nasty shot to Mark McGinley's right. The 'kepper makes a smart save though and it stays 0-0.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United 63' - Substitution - UCD Sub - Cillian Morrison replaces Robbie Benson.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United 62' - Yellow Card - UCD's Daniel Ledwith is booked.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
60' - And up the other end again - Fabio O'Brien picks up the ball after a little mistake by Daniel Ledwith. O'Brien has a crack from twenty yards but watches his shot go wide of Mark McGinley's left post at waist height.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
59' - It suddenly becomes a totally end to end game. UCD force the Drogs back onto their own line with a corner that breaks to Paul Corry before the midfielder drills a shot into a hoard of players.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
57' - A massive scramble in front of the UCD goal eventually leads to Mark McGinley pushing the ball off his line. What happened there, I'll never know, but it was a fair melée that somebody eventually got a head to.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
56' - Attendance just announced as 378, which isn't bad. It is nice out though, even if it is a bit cold. And both teams are playing very nicely in the middle half of the pitch. From the edge of one box to the other we are being treated to some lovely passing football, but not a massive amount is happening in front of goal, until -
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
54' - Both teams look just as good as they did in the first half, with UCD starting slightly the brighter. Chris Lyons has perhaps been the edge since the break though, looking like he doesn't want to be subbed, for want of a better observation.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
52' - A looping ball into the Drogheda penalty area falls to a lurking Chris Lyons at the edge. He drives a shot but Gabriel Sava dived across to make a good looking save. He may have been making himself look a bit spectacular with his acrobatics but it was a smart bit of goalkeeping.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
48' - Danny Ledwith scathes the side netting from the box! The full back picked up the scraps of a tepid attack and put some venom on a first time effort. Still 0-0 but that is a promising start to the half for the home team.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United 46' - Substitution - UCD Sub - Mark Langtry replaces Gary Burke at the half. A straight swap - Langtry will take up a position on the right of midfield.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United 46' - Second Half - Drogheda get the second half underway. We have had one yellow card so far and no goals and, I hate to be *that* guy, the temperature is dropping to nothing fairly lively. I may be overstating that though. 
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United 45' - Half Time - And that is the whistle for the break. UCD 0-0 Drogheda United. Tea time. Get any comments in to @CathalWogan on Twitter.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
45' - A minute of solid UCD passing and the ball breaks to Gavin Brennan on Drogehda's left wing. He makes to cross but Hugh Douglas makes a good tackle, the ball going out for a throw. Story of the half, even enough before play breaks and then not much end result.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
43' - Huge claims for a penalty from the Drogheda United fans but, of course, they are biased. A beautiful tackle by Daniel Ledwith on Declan O'Brien as the latter was played into the box. It was emphatic and the ball was well won. The Drogs' striker claimed for a penalty rather brazenly and his support shouted too - but waved away quite rightly.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
39' - Nearing the mid-game break, the interval, and it's very much Drogheda's game at the moment. They are getting at UCD down the flanks and the home team aren't dealing with it at that juncture. For the most part, once crosses are delivered, the Students have been able to clear their lines. However, as we saw with Ryan Brennan's chance moments ago they shouldn't be depending on David O'Connor and Mick Leahy to clear everything. Something's gotta give.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
34' - Ohhhh! Great chance for the Drogs! Gavin Brennan finds space down the right flank and floasts - *floats* - a sumptuous ball into the area. Ryan Brennan rushes on and plants his head behind it but, almost shocked at the chance, he gets beneath it and the spherical leather thing goes flying over the bar leaving Mark McGinley breathing a sigh of relief.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
34' - Ohhhh! Great chance for the Drogs! Gavin Brennan finds space down the right flank and floasts - *floats* - a sumptuous ball into the area. Ryan Brennan rushes on and plants his head behind it but, almost shocked at the chance, he gets beneath it and the spherical leather thing goes flying over the bar leaving Mark McGinley breathing a sigh of relief.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United 33' - Yellow Card - UCD defender Mick Leahy cops the first card of the game for a handball in the middle of the park.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
32' - The play is broken, neither team asserting themselves. After a bright start, UCD have probably eased off and Drogheda have had the best of the half's chances.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
31' - Play resumes and, to the applause of a small few travelling United fans, Alan McNally returns to the field of play, seemingly uninjured.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
29' - Play halts for an injury to Drogheda United captain Alan McNally. It looks like he may have twisted his knee, but we will all just have to hope that it isn't serious. He's being seen to by the physio now as the rest of the players take five.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
26' - Tiernan Mulvenna nearly gifted an opening by David O'Connor. The UCD central defender swung at an inoffensive ball that was stationary on the edge of the six yard box. He missed completely, but his blushes were saved as Mulvenna was just a touch too far away, the ball being cleared from danger smartly.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
22' - And the Drogs really are showing that they could strike at any moment. Declan O'Brien again went close, this time from a very difficult angle to the right of goal. He fired a shot just past the far up right and it stays, for the moment, 0-0, though both teams are showing offensive capabilities.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
21' - Tiernan Mulvenna, a really lovely player when he's on song, cuts a ball square to Declan O'Brien - but no, just behind him. That could have been the opener.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
19' - A great ball from left back Danny Ledwith goes down the line to Graham Rusk. Rusk pull it across to Chris Lyons, who feeds Bennion, Bennion takes at around a defender and tries to chip a cross back again from the end line but, aghast, it floats over Gabriel Sava's crossbar. That was some lovely football but not even a smell of an end result for the Students.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
16' - My brother's UCD Super League team, Sheffield ThursBray, recently lost the cup semi-final, losing out on a chance to play upon this fine surface. A pity, as it inspires some good soccerball. Ryan Brennan and Tiernan Mulvenna combine smartly, the later forcing a low save from McGinly from 25 yards. The ball goes out for a corner but that is away safely.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
14' - Declan O'Brien is largely playing a lone role up front for the Drogs and he has just been given his first sight of goal. It was, however, rather speculative. A hoofed clearance gave him a little space 30 yards from Mark McGinley's goal and the veteran striker hit a hopeful, running shot towards goal. It went high and wide though, and the score stays 0-0.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
10' - A chance for Drogheda. Mark McGinely, UCD 'keeper, flaps at a corner and the ball falls to a Drogheda man who is bundled over clumsily by Hugh Douglas. Eric Foley has a crack from just outside the box with the free kick only for it to fly safely into the arms of McGinley.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
8' - Paul O'Connor dinks a little ball from midfield to Chris Lyons who tries to lob the keeper, receiving a bouncing ball. Gabriel Sava sees it go safely over though.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
7' - The Students have settled the better at the Belfield Bowl, but without creating anything significant or making the Drogs sweat yet. Graham Rusk has drifted out to take up a position on the left, with Robbie Benson playing as a deep lying striker behind Chris Lyons. It is difficult to see how the visitors intend to set up structurally as they haven't really had the ball yet.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
3' - A long free in delivered by David O'Connor, met by Hugh Douglas in the box. That's UCD's first chance, though hardly a clear one at all.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
2' - For those wondering - 7up and a Twirl. That's a pretty good score in my book... UCD with an early speculative ball into the box but nothing comes of it as Drogheda casually clear.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United 1' - Kick-off - UCD kick us off, Chris Lyons and Graham Rusk in touching the ball to each other in the opposite order of how I've written it. UCD playing from my right to left, though that hardly matters for you.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
0' - One minute until kick off... I wouldn't want to be the man between the Belfield FM commentators and the student bar after what is bound to be a corker this evening...
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
0' - Think about the following, from my colleague Simon O'Gorman's preview of the game: UCD beat Drogheda in three of their four league meetings last season. The aggregate score over the four games was 9-8 to the Students. That's four and a bit goals per game. I would take four goals tonight. That would be lovely.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
0' - Five minutes until kick off. Rihanna, the philosopher king... The teams have gone in to put jerseys on themselves, so they all match barring the numbers and names stitched upon their backs (and possibly shorts). There are exactly the amount of people here you might expect, not all that many, but there are more trickling in bearing curry chips and sun glasses. Yes, sun glasses. It is nearly summer.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
0' - While we're waiting for a game to break out here, I may as well say hello. Cathal Wogan with you in Belfield tonight for a game that I'm betting will produce a few goals. To my left is Simon O'Gorman, who has thus been taking the lead on delivering team news to your computer/laptop/phone/tablet screens. It is a very pleasant evening and, as I walked in, I was greeted by the dulcet tones of the voice of our generation, exotic pop singer type Rihanna. "We found love in a hopeless place," she sang. "We found love in a HOPE-LESS-PLACE." This is not a hopeless place, and I briefly found love in Belfield once, only to be thrown out of Roebuck House quite emphatically the next day. Hit me up on Twitter - @CathalWogan. Tell me anything. Give me predictions, or weather forecasts. Or maybe try to predict what bar/fizzy drink combo UCD will deliver to me in the press gallery.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
0' - On the UCD side, we've got a fairly straightforward 4-4-2 on the cards. Graham Rusk, one would think, might play a little deeper than Chris Lyons, so that system can turn into a 4-5-1 when the Students are without the ball.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
0' - Drogheda line out as expected. Fabio O'Brien starts up front with Tiarnan Mulvenna, with Sean Brennan starting on the bench. His brothers Ryan and Gavin are in what looks like a four man midfield.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
0' - Drogheda line out as expected. Fabio O'Brien starts up front with Tiarnan Mulvenna, with Sean Brennan starting on the bench. His brothers Ryan and Gavin are in what looks like a fur man midfield.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
0' - Ok, Balmy Belfield is dead and gone. The sun has receded and it is now distinctly cool. Bring a scarf! Just less than an hour to kick-off now and we're expecting a good game tonight. Two decent teams on a good pitch, yeah, bring it on. My prediction for tonight is a 3-1 win for Drogheda.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
0' - The last time Drogheda came here we were treated to a nine goal thriller as the Students managed to come back from 4-2 down to win 5-4. More of that tonight please.
U.C.D 0 - 0 Drogheda United
0' - It looks like we may be welcoming in the weekend with some half decent weather. Belfield feels almost balmy this evening as UCD host Drogheda United in a game that sees Drogheda continue their pursuit of league leaders Sligo Rovers. Who would 'a thunk it! |
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90' + 3' - Goodnight and good luck. Rihanna is playing again now. I'm gonna dance a bit to warm up. Until next time, same bat place same bat channel. You know the deal.