UCD AFC -v- Kildare County FC
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UCD are hot favourites to maintain their 100 percent record when they entertain bottom-of-the-table Kildare County, fresh from an 8-0 hammering by Sporting Fingal, at the Belfield Bowl on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm). The Students have won their opening four games and, due to goal difference, sit above Shelbourne at the summit.
No complacency
Their latest victory came last weekend with an impressive 2-1 win at Finn Harps, which followed on from wins over Limerick (2-1), Fingal (1-0) and Monaghan United (3-0). “We were good value for the win [at Harps]," said manager Martin Russell. "It was tough for both sides as the weather was poor and the pitch was a bit soft." Despite UCD's faultless form, however, the former Saint Patrick's Athletic midfielder is not underestimating the challenge of Kildare. “[Kildare] were hurt so badly last week that their pride will have been hurt,” he said. “I’m hopeful we won’t be complacent when we play them.”
Heavy hits
Kildare, who gained a reprieve, following their initial relegation to the A-Championship, thanks to the fall of Cobh Ramblers, have endured a painful start to the season. The promise of an opening day draw at home to Finn Harps quickly vanished as they suffered heavy defeats at Athlone Town (1-3) and Longford Town (0-4) before last Friday's massacre in Newbridge. Boss Thomas 'Cooper' Donnelly, however, insists that the players are working extremely hard to turn their fortunes around. “We were in training on Sunday morning, we had a long chat and I told them that we can’t continue to make the mistakes that we are making," he said. "We’ve worked a lot on defensive work during the week, on things like defensive shape.
Concession concern
"In fairness to the lads, they were in for three-and-a-half hours on Sunday morning and two-and-a-half hours on Monday and we are in Thursday night as well, so they are putting the work in. They want to turn things around. The manner in how we are defending is the thing that is bothering me the most at the moment, even more so than losing 8-0. It’s the way we are conceding goals that is a concern, but all we can do is put the work in on the training ground. We aren’t going to face the likes of Sporting Fingal every week, although there are three or four teams who are close to that level, including UCD."
Kilduff danger
Likely to be a thorn in the side of Kildare all evening is a former Thoroughbred, Ciaran Kilduff, who spent last season at Station Road. The youngster has already notched five goals for UCD this term and Donnelly is well aware of the threat the striker poses. “Duffer’s a fine player and it’s probably suiting him a bit more at UCD now because they play a bit more football," he said. "He is banging in the goals and they have 12 points from 12, so it’s going to be a big ask for our lads again. But I’ll be looking for the lads to increase the level of the performance significantly from last week and I want us to defend much better than we have been doing up to now.”
Physicality added
UCD have no suspension worries for the game but doubts surround the availability of Sean Harding and Greg Bolger, both of whom are carrying knocks. Kildare, meanwhile, are boosted by the return of David O'Riordan, who has not appeared since limping off late on against Harps. “He is probably about 85% at the moment,” said Donnelly. Former Liffey Celtic captain Thomas McLoughlin is also included in the squad for the first time. "Thomas is a big strong lad and he will add a bit of physicality to the team which we have been missing," said the County boss. "We’ve been a little too nice so far and we have been working with the lads during the week to add some controlled aggression to our game.”
extratime.ie prediction: It is impossible to see anything other than a comfortable UCD win. 5-1.
No complacency
Their latest victory came last weekend with an impressive 2-1 win at Finn Harps, which followed on from wins over Limerick (2-1), Fingal (1-0) and Monaghan United (3-0). “We were good value for the win [at Harps]," said manager Martin Russell. "It was tough for both sides as the weather was poor and the pitch was a bit soft." Despite UCD's faultless form, however, the former Saint Patrick's Athletic midfielder is not underestimating the challenge of Kildare. “[Kildare] were hurt so badly last week that their pride will have been hurt,” he said. “I’m hopeful we won’t be complacent when we play them.”
Heavy hits
Kildare, who gained a reprieve, following their initial relegation to the A-Championship, thanks to the fall of Cobh Ramblers, have endured a painful start to the season. The promise of an opening day draw at home to Finn Harps quickly vanished as they suffered heavy defeats at Athlone Town (1-3) and Longford Town (0-4) before last Friday's massacre in Newbridge. Boss Thomas 'Cooper' Donnelly, however, insists that the players are working extremely hard to turn their fortunes around. “We were in training on Sunday morning, we had a long chat and I told them that we can’t continue to make the mistakes that we are making," he said. "We’ve worked a lot on defensive work during the week, on things like defensive shape.
Concession concern
"In fairness to the lads, they were in for three-and-a-half hours on Sunday morning and two-and-a-half hours on Monday and we are in Thursday night as well, so they are putting the work in. They want to turn things around. The manner in how we are defending is the thing that is bothering me the most at the moment, even more so than losing 8-0. It’s the way we are conceding goals that is a concern, but all we can do is put the work in on the training ground. We aren’t going to face the likes of Sporting Fingal every week, although there are three or four teams who are close to that level, including UCD."
Kilduff danger
Likely to be a thorn in the side of Kildare all evening is a former Thoroughbred, Ciaran Kilduff, who spent last season at Station Road. The youngster has already notched five goals for UCD this term and Donnelly is well aware of the threat the striker poses. “Duffer’s a fine player and it’s probably suiting him a bit more at UCD now because they play a bit more football," he said. "He is banging in the goals and they have 12 points from 12, so it’s going to be a big ask for our lads again. But I’ll be looking for the lads to increase the level of the performance significantly from last week and I want us to defend much better than we have been doing up to now.”
Physicality added
UCD have no suspension worries for the game but doubts surround the availability of Sean Harding and Greg Bolger, both of whom are carrying knocks. Kildare, meanwhile, are boosted by the return of David O'Riordan, who has not appeared since limping off late on against Harps. “He is probably about 85% at the moment,” said Donnelly. Former Liffey Celtic captain Thomas McLoughlin is also included in the squad for the first time. "Thomas is a big strong lad and he will add a bit of physicality to the team which we have been missing," said the County boss. "We’ve been a little too nice so far and we have been working with the lads during the week to add some controlled aggression to our game.”
extratime.ie prediction: It is impossible to see anything other than a comfortable UCD win. 5-1.
