Collie O'Neill - We need to take it one game at a time

On Friday evening at the UCD Bowl, the Students ensured they kept the pressure on both Wexford Youths and Finn Harps at the top of the SSE Airtricity First Division table with a 5-1 victory over Waterford United. After the game a delighted Collie O’Neill spoke to Extratime.ie about his side’s performance.

“I’m very happy now that it's another three points” the UCD boss said. “Especially after the European adventure. It was three points against Finn Harps, it was three points last week against Cabinteely and it was three points again tonight [Friday evening]. We move onto Cobh next Friday where we’ll be looking for another three points.”

Despite having two prolific goal scorers in Ryan Swan and Conor Cannon, O’Neill is pleased that his side are not solely reliant on their two forwards and on Friday evening the Students had four different goal scorers.

“There is a great work rate amongst our side, we have a treat all over. Everybody can score goals, they’re all comfortable on the ball, they're all great at going forward and there is a great work ethic - we’ve asked for that since the European adventure not to be reliant on Swanny or Conor Cannon to get the goal.”

With a successful European campaign fully behind UCD, it could have been easy for Collie O’Neill’s side to rest on their laurels from the confidence they built up competing with some of the top sides in Europe, however, the Students boss explained that his management have reminded their side that there is still a prize up for grabs in the First Division title.

“The confidence is there, but I think it is very easy considering how good things have gone over the last while to take foot off the gas and not work as hard as we have been over the last couple of weeks, but it's great that we keep on pushing them and we let them know there is a prize at the end, if they're willing to do the work week in week out. Because every game between now and the end is going to be a fight.”

Despite being unbeaten in their last sixteen league games, a run that spans back to March, O’Neill is aware that his side must continue to pick up victories starting with Cobh Ramblers at home on Friday August 14th.

“There is probably too many draws within those sixteen games,” he said. “We need three points from every game till the end of the season. We’ve slipped up in Waterford before and Cabinteely beat us at the start of the season in the [EA Sports] Cup game.

Minutes after the half-time break, UCD lost their influential centre-back Tomas Boyle due to injury and O’Neill confirmed the defender has been carrying a knock for some time, but with some rest he should be fit for the Student’s game with Cobh.

“Tomas is fine” he revealed. “I think he was probably just tired, it’s the same knee injury that he’s had going through all the European adventures - he probably just needs a week's rest and he should be okay.”