First Division Round-up: Series 5
Credit:
Shelbourne and UCD maintained their 100% records over weekend while there were also wins for Sporting Fingal, Waterford United and Wexford Youths. At the other end, Kildare improved on last week, conceding just the four goals this time round.
1st UCD:
We said after last week’s tough win over Finn Harps, the visit of Kildare County to The Bowl was always a banker for an emphatic win. Evan McMillan (2), Robert Creevy and Chris Mulhall each chipped in for the Students as they comfortably saw off their lowly opposition. The four goal victory was only surprising in that it lacked another strike from Ciaran Kilduff who picked up a slight knock. Next Friday sees the Students visit Tolka Park where one, or probably both, perfect starts will come to an end.
2nd Shelbourne:
Shels continued their form to perfection at Mervue on Friday night. As has been the norm this season, they looked great going forward but struggled to finish off their opportunities, with Kevin Doherty’s late winner coming after Shels had completely outplayed the hosts: Fifteen from fifteen, great. Hosting UCD on Friday, expect an exciting, yet probably low scoring game.
3rd Sporting Fingal:
It was important for Sporting to follow up last week’s drubbing of Kildare County with another win against Finn Harps. It was never going to be an easy game, however, Eamon Zayed’s first half effort was enough for the Santry side to keep pace with the league leaders. Travelling to Monaghan on Friday, knowing that at least one of the top two will drop points, it is again imperative that they get a win
4th Waterford United:
It took five games, however the four favourites for promotion finally represent the top four positions in the league. Against Longford, Willie John Kiely was again the hero, winning the game for Stephen Henderson’s side for the third time this season. In truth, Waterford should have scored quite a few more. A tough trip to Donegal follows for the Blues, and as with Sporting, it is very important they get a win.
5th Athlone Town:
All surprisingly good starts must come to an end. Athlone lost out to Wexford Youths in a close game and, worryingly, they have now lost two on the trot. A winnable game at Longford this Saturday represents a great chance for Brendan Place’s charges to get back to winning ways.
6th Wexford Youths:
Wexford Youths look set to push right up the table having enjoyed the most difficult start to the season. Last week’s win over Longford was replicated against Athlone as Conor Sinnott’s second half winner again earned him a ‘Man of the Match’ call from extratime.ie. Should Wexford beat the travelling Limerick FC this Friday it will be three wins from three and represent validation for Mick Wallace’s vocal confidence only one week ago.
7th Limerick FC:
A scoreless draw at home to Monaghan represents a poor return for Pat Scully’s side. Following last week’s loss to Shels, Scully would have felt this was a great chance to earn his first three point haul. However their failure to break down a poor Monaghan side should give the new manager ample reasons for concern - with regards this season.
8th Finn Harps:
Finn Harps had quite a good opportunity to turn over Sporting Fingal on Friday, with neither side yet to hit anything near their top form. Harps did well and kept with Sporting for large spells of the game, however another loss underlines the fact that Paul Hegarty’s men won’t keep up with the promotion candidates this year.
9th Longford Town:
It is tough to get a result at Waterford, however when your manager plays in goal, you know you’ll struggle even more. It was Waterford’s poor finishing that kept the scoreline close, a one nil loss more than Longford deserved. Home to Athlone on Saturday, Alan Gough’s side badly need a result.
10th Mervue United:
Outplayed throughout their match against Shelbourne, Mervue were lucky to only lose by one goal, however unlucky considering that one goal came in the dying minutes, again. Mervue have shown they are capable of performing in this Division; however costly lapses, late in games, could well be their undoing. Who knows who will win when they visit Kildare on Friday…
11th Monaghan United:
Monaghan doubled their points haul with a scoreless draw against Limerick on Saturday – that isn’t a great thing to point out at all. However their first clean sheet of the season is certainly a positive and it is not entirely beyond the realms of possibility that they cause Sporting the odd problem this Friday.
12th Kildare County:
UCD scored the average amount against Kildare, four, as again Thomas Donnelly’s side were brushed aside. But, at the start of the season, games against Sporting Fingal or at UCD were never likely to be sources of hope for Kildare County. A home game against Mervue United this Friday is more likely to garner a result for this side; certainly an arrest of the 'goals against' column is in order.
1st UCD:
We said after last week’s tough win over Finn Harps, the visit of Kildare County to The Bowl was always a banker for an emphatic win. Evan McMillan (2), Robert Creevy and Chris Mulhall each chipped in for the Students as they comfortably saw off their lowly opposition. The four goal victory was only surprising in that it lacked another strike from Ciaran Kilduff who picked up a slight knock. Next Friday sees the Students visit Tolka Park where one, or probably both, perfect starts will come to an end.
2nd Shelbourne:
Shels continued their form to perfection at Mervue on Friday night. As has been the norm this season, they looked great going forward but struggled to finish off their opportunities, with Kevin Doherty’s late winner coming after Shels had completely outplayed the hosts: Fifteen from fifteen, great. Hosting UCD on Friday, expect an exciting, yet probably low scoring game.
3rd Sporting Fingal:
It was important for Sporting to follow up last week’s drubbing of Kildare County with another win against Finn Harps. It was never going to be an easy game, however, Eamon Zayed’s first half effort was enough for the Santry side to keep pace with the league leaders. Travelling to Monaghan on Friday, knowing that at least one of the top two will drop points, it is again imperative that they get a win
4th Waterford United:
It took five games, however the four favourites for promotion finally represent the top four positions in the league. Against Longford, Willie John Kiely was again the hero, winning the game for Stephen Henderson’s side for the third time this season. In truth, Waterford should have scored quite a few more. A tough trip to Donegal follows for the Blues, and as with Sporting, it is very important they get a win.
5th Athlone Town:
All surprisingly good starts must come to an end. Athlone lost out to Wexford Youths in a close game and, worryingly, they have now lost two on the trot. A winnable game at Longford this Saturday represents a great chance for Brendan Place’s charges to get back to winning ways.
6th Wexford Youths:
Wexford Youths look set to push right up the table having enjoyed the most difficult start to the season. Last week’s win over Longford was replicated against Athlone as Conor Sinnott’s second half winner again earned him a ‘Man of the Match’ call from extratime.ie. Should Wexford beat the travelling Limerick FC this Friday it will be three wins from three and represent validation for Mick Wallace’s vocal confidence only one week ago.
7th Limerick FC:
A scoreless draw at home to Monaghan represents a poor return for Pat Scully’s side. Following last week’s loss to Shels, Scully would have felt this was a great chance to earn his first three point haul. However their failure to break down a poor Monaghan side should give the new manager ample reasons for concern - with regards this season.
8th Finn Harps:
Finn Harps had quite a good opportunity to turn over Sporting Fingal on Friday, with neither side yet to hit anything near their top form. Harps did well and kept with Sporting for large spells of the game, however another loss underlines the fact that Paul Hegarty’s men won’t keep up with the promotion candidates this year.
9th Longford Town:
It is tough to get a result at Waterford, however when your manager plays in goal, you know you’ll struggle even more. It was Waterford’s poor finishing that kept the scoreline close, a one nil loss more than Longford deserved. Home to Athlone on Saturday, Alan Gough’s side badly need a result.
10th Mervue United:
Outplayed throughout their match against Shelbourne, Mervue were lucky to only lose by one goal, however unlucky considering that one goal came in the dying minutes, again. Mervue have shown they are capable of performing in this Division; however costly lapses, late in games, could well be their undoing. Who knows who will win when they visit Kildare on Friday…
11th Monaghan United:
Monaghan doubled their points haul with a scoreless draw against Limerick on Saturday – that isn’t a great thing to point out at all. However their first clean sheet of the season is certainly a positive and it is not entirely beyond the realms of possibility that they cause Sporting the odd problem this Friday.
12th Kildare County:
UCD scored the average amount against Kildare, four, as again Thomas Donnelly’s side were brushed aside. But, at the start of the season, games against Sporting Fingal or at UCD were never likely to be sources of hope for Kildare County. A home game against Mervue United this Friday is more likely to garner a result for this side; certainly an arrest of the 'goals against' column is in order.
About Gordon Hunt
Gordon Hunt is one of extratime's Dublin based reporters. Having worked with the site since it's inception, Gordon's name is carved into the foundations of extratime's tower block. View Full Profile