First Division Round Up: Series 9
Credit:
UCD and Waterford pulled away from the stuttering Sporting Fingal at the top while Monaghan's fine away win in Athlone saw them rise up to ninth. Elsewhere Wexford Youths bagged another three points while Finn Harps and Shelbourne saw their fixture suffer a very late postponement.
1st UCD:
A Ciaran Kilduff brace separated by a Greg Bolger strike was more than enough to beat ten-man Longford Town on Friday. Twenty four points from the opening twenty seven is more than anyone expected of the Students, well worthy of their position. A trip to Athlone follows.
2nd Waterford United:
Six wins in a row now for Stephen Henderson’s side now sees Waterford continue to move up the table. Willie John Kiely and Joe Mulcahy did the business at the RSC on Saturday against Mervue in what was a dominant performance from the hosts. Both the points tally and goal difference should benefit when Kildare come visiting on Saturday.
3rd Sporting Fingal:
Liam Buckley’s men were beginning to look unstoppable of late; however Limerick nabbed a hard fought draw at Morton Stadium on Friday night. Gareth Whelan’s second half strike looked enough for Sporting however they were immediately undone by a Martin Deady free kick. Poor result for Fingal as they drop below Waterford. Away to Mervue United next.
4th Shelbourne:
Shelbourne supporters are rightly aggrieved with Friday’s postponement, after travelling all that way any postponement is tough to take. However geography should be irrelevant with regards situations like these. A game being postponed in Donegal should be treated no differently to a game being postponed in North Dublin - A decision about player safety must be appreciated. An injury, should this decision have not been taken, would be a serious concern.
Shels looked good going into this game and the main grievance should be the potential three points gone a begging. In the grander scheme of things, a failed trip will be gladly forgotten should Shels get promotion. In a season that already looks destined to be determined by occasional slip ups by the top four, three points in games like these are of the utmost importance. Home to Longford on Friday, again the sole target of Dermot Keely’s men should, and will, be three points.
5th Wexford Youths:
David Breen, Gavin Doyle and Richie Fitzgerald did the necessary for the Youths against Kildare on Saturday. A comfortable win was always expected and Mick Wallace would have been pleased with the scoreline. Still fifth. Visiting Monaghan this weekend, the Youths should really get another win.
6th Limerick FC:
Great result for Pat Scully’s men in Santry with Martin Deady’s strike earning a tough draw for Limerick. Following a loss to Waterford, this draw is even more impressive. Hosting Finn Harps this weekend, Limerick could really push on from here and keep apace with Wexford above them.
7th Athlone Town:
Athlone have shown themselves to be a handy First Division outfit this season, however, conceding three at home to Monaghan United is worryingly akin to last season’s performances. Robbie Benson’s effort was cancelled out by a Sean Brennan penalty which saw Athlone’s Thomas McGauley sent off. Athlone again took the lead right on half time, this time through Noel McGee however again they were pegged back and ultimately beaten in the closing stages by a resurgent Monaghan. Home to UCD next, it will be tough to get over this result.
8th Mervue United:
Mervue are in a tough run of fixtures which sees them facing three of the leaders in succession. Following their narrow loss to UCD, Waterford were the next side to beat the Galway men. This weekend they face Sporting and no doubt most fans simply want these fixtures out of the way.
9th Monaghan United:
Two wins in a row now for Monaghan and a feel-good vibe must surely be around Kingspan Century Park this weekend when they host Wexford Youths. Sean Brennan, a Robbie Hamm o.g and Barry Clancy’s late strike were just enough to turn over Athlone as Monaghan slowly rise up the league. David Freeman’s red card will be a disappointment however six points from six paints a far rosier picture than what appeared only two weeks ago.
10th Finn Harps:
A cancelled game in Ballybofey means many things, however a lack of gate receipts may be the most telling one. Away to Limerick next, should be tough.
11th Longford Town:
A comfortable win for UCD saw Longford drop to second bottom this week. Derek Glynn’s late consolation not enough to earn the lowly Town anything. Brian McCarthy’s red card just another disappointing aspect of their start to this season. Seven losses in a row is rubbish form ahead of a trip to Tolka Park.
12th Kildare County:
Another loss, this time to Wexford Youths..
1st UCD:
A Ciaran Kilduff brace separated by a Greg Bolger strike was more than enough to beat ten-man Longford Town on Friday. Twenty four points from the opening twenty seven is more than anyone expected of the Students, well worthy of their position. A trip to Athlone follows.
2nd Waterford United:
Six wins in a row now for Stephen Henderson’s side now sees Waterford continue to move up the table. Willie John Kiely and Joe Mulcahy did the business at the RSC on Saturday against Mervue in what was a dominant performance from the hosts. Both the points tally and goal difference should benefit when Kildare come visiting on Saturday.
3rd Sporting Fingal:
Liam Buckley’s men were beginning to look unstoppable of late; however Limerick nabbed a hard fought draw at Morton Stadium on Friday night. Gareth Whelan’s second half strike looked enough for Sporting however they were immediately undone by a Martin Deady free kick. Poor result for Fingal as they drop below Waterford. Away to Mervue United next.
4th Shelbourne:
Shelbourne supporters are rightly aggrieved with Friday’s postponement, after travelling all that way any postponement is tough to take. However geography should be irrelevant with regards situations like these. A game being postponed in Donegal should be treated no differently to a game being postponed in North Dublin - A decision about player safety must be appreciated. An injury, should this decision have not been taken, would be a serious concern.
Shels looked good going into this game and the main grievance should be the potential three points gone a begging. In the grander scheme of things, a failed trip will be gladly forgotten should Shels get promotion. In a season that already looks destined to be determined by occasional slip ups by the top four, three points in games like these are of the utmost importance. Home to Longford on Friday, again the sole target of Dermot Keely’s men should, and will, be three points.
5th Wexford Youths:
David Breen, Gavin Doyle and Richie Fitzgerald did the necessary for the Youths against Kildare on Saturday. A comfortable win was always expected and Mick Wallace would have been pleased with the scoreline. Still fifth. Visiting Monaghan this weekend, the Youths should really get another win.
6th Limerick FC:
Great result for Pat Scully’s men in Santry with Martin Deady’s strike earning a tough draw for Limerick. Following a loss to Waterford, this draw is even more impressive. Hosting Finn Harps this weekend, Limerick could really push on from here and keep apace with Wexford above them.
7th Athlone Town:
Athlone have shown themselves to be a handy First Division outfit this season, however, conceding three at home to Monaghan United is worryingly akin to last season’s performances. Robbie Benson’s effort was cancelled out by a Sean Brennan penalty which saw Athlone’s Thomas McGauley sent off. Athlone again took the lead right on half time, this time through Noel McGee however again they were pegged back and ultimately beaten in the closing stages by a resurgent Monaghan. Home to UCD next, it will be tough to get over this result.
8th Mervue United:
Mervue are in a tough run of fixtures which sees them facing three of the leaders in succession. Following their narrow loss to UCD, Waterford were the next side to beat the Galway men. This weekend they face Sporting and no doubt most fans simply want these fixtures out of the way.
9th Monaghan United:
Two wins in a row now for Monaghan and a feel-good vibe must surely be around Kingspan Century Park this weekend when they host Wexford Youths. Sean Brennan, a Robbie Hamm o.g and Barry Clancy’s late strike were just enough to turn over Athlone as Monaghan slowly rise up the league. David Freeman’s red card will be a disappointment however six points from six paints a far rosier picture than what appeared only two weeks ago.
10th Finn Harps:
A cancelled game in Ballybofey means many things, however a lack of gate receipts may be the most telling one. Away to Limerick next, should be tough.
11th Longford Town:
A comfortable win for UCD saw Longford drop to second bottom this week. Derek Glynn’s late consolation not enough to earn the lowly Town anything. Brian McCarthy’s red card just another disappointing aspect of their start to this season. Seven losses in a row is rubbish form ahead of a trip to Tolka Park.
12th Kildare County:
Another loss, this time to Wexford Youths..
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