First Division Round-up: Series 11
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The top two in the division, UCD and Waterford United, played out a scoreless draw allowing Sporting Fingal and Shelbourne to close the gap. Elsewhere Wexford Youths, Limerick FC and Monaghan United posted victories.
1st UCD:
UCD could only manage a draw on Friday in the top of the table clash, but, with the first round of fixtures complete Martin Russell will be delighted with the twenty eight point return from his side. It was only the second game this season in which the students have dropped points and they look good to continue their fine form in Limerick this weekend.
2nd Waterford United:
The winning run had to come to an end eventually, with Waterford being very much second best at the Belfield Bowl. It is quite a side note that, despite yielding 26 points out of a possible 33, sitting second in a very competitive First Division, one third of the way through the season, the three games which Stephen Henderson’s side have dropped points in have all been against their main rivals - drawing at home to Sporting, losing at home to Shelbourne and Friday’s draw at UCD. Given the next round of fixtures will see Waterford travel to Dublin twice to face Shels’ and Sporting (the latter of which is this Friday), that trend should be addressed. Nevertheless, the full points garnered from sides lower than fourth is something which their rivals have failed to do, leaving Waterford in a good position to push on.
3rd Sporting Fingal:
Sporting Fingal won what appeared to be a comfortable 2-0 victory over Athlone Town on Friday, but, the scoreline hides what was in truth a very difficult game for Liam Buckley’s men. Athlone were equal to Fingal for most of the game and should have been ahead a few times before Robbie Benson’s unfortunate OG. Conan Byrne’s strike a few minutes later killed the tie. Tough game awaits as Waterford visit on Friday.
4th Shelbourne:
Shels’ visit to Kildare on Saturday came after they knew the top two had drawn; an easy fixture then to add three points and a few goals onto the league table. By all accounts, however, Dermot Keely’s men struggled for the first half at Station Road, something very clubs have managed to do. But talent often prevails and, after David McAllister grabbed one before the break, Anthony Flood added two more to bring the points home for Shels. Away to Wexford on Friday, should be a close one.
5th Wexford Youths:
David Breen’s strike midway through the second half was enough to secure three points against Mervue United to keep the Youth’s promotion hopes alive. Our very own Conor Meagher praised Wexford after the game, noting himself that “Mervue were truly lucky not to concede at hat full”. Wexford will be delighted with their recent results, with 13 points from the last 15 available. However the hard works starts all over again for Mick Wallace, with Shels at home followed by Waterford United (a) and Sporting Fingal (h).
6th Limerick FC:
Pat Scully witnessed his side’s first win in four games, thanks to goals from Thomas Lyons, David Ryan and Paul Cummins. With the visit of UCD this weekend, it could prove too difficult to keep pace with Wexford a place above them. However, as recent results have shown, Limerick are not the pushovers they were at the start of the season.
7th Monaghan United:
Ten points from the last twelve available has seen Monaghan turn their season around. Barry Clancy and Karl Bermingham were the heroes in Ballybofey and with Longford the visitors this Friday, Monaghan could well grab another three points. Earlier in the season these sides played out a cracker, finishing 3-3, however Monaghan are the side who have improved since then.
8th Mervue United:
Waterford were too much for Mervue, who remain in eighth place. Eleven points from their first eleven games in the First Division has seen them comfortably adapt to the challenge, with confident performances in many of their games so far. This Saturday’s visit to Athlone will be a tough game.
9th Athlone Town:
For seventy minutes Athlone were the better team on Friday, however two goals in seven minutes broke their challenge. Stephen Place was a constant thorn in Sporting’s back line and the final result should not get Brendan Place down too much. Against a lower opposition, Athlone would probably have won this game so no reason to be too down about it. Should be a tight game against Mervue.
10th Finn Harps:
Michael Funston’s equaliser against Monaghan was not enough as Finn Harps again lost. Despite a numerical advantage for 30 minutes, Harps could not respond to Karl Bermingham’s fiftieth minute penalty. Hosting Kildare this weekend, Harps will surely get a win…
11th Longford Town:
Longford scored twice against Limerick on Saturday but it was not enough. Liam Lynch equalised for Longford just after the break, after Thomas Lyons gave the visitors the lead, however two late goals from Limerick rendered Adrian Murphy’s injury time strike irrelevant. Tough to see Longford get anything at Monaghan.
12th Kildare County:
Another loss, this time to Shels. Kildare’s only point of the season came on the opening day against Finn Harps, if they can match that result in Ballybofey we will all be incredibly surprised...
1st UCD:
UCD could only manage a draw on Friday in the top of the table clash, but, with the first round of fixtures complete Martin Russell will be delighted with the twenty eight point return from his side. It was only the second game this season in which the students have dropped points and they look good to continue their fine form in Limerick this weekend.
2nd Waterford United:
The winning run had to come to an end eventually, with Waterford being very much second best at the Belfield Bowl. It is quite a side note that, despite yielding 26 points out of a possible 33, sitting second in a very competitive First Division, one third of the way through the season, the three games which Stephen Henderson’s side have dropped points in have all been against their main rivals - drawing at home to Sporting, losing at home to Shelbourne and Friday’s draw at UCD. Given the next round of fixtures will see Waterford travel to Dublin twice to face Shels’ and Sporting (the latter of which is this Friday), that trend should be addressed. Nevertheless, the full points garnered from sides lower than fourth is something which their rivals have failed to do, leaving Waterford in a good position to push on.
3rd Sporting Fingal:
Sporting Fingal won what appeared to be a comfortable 2-0 victory over Athlone Town on Friday, but, the scoreline hides what was in truth a very difficult game for Liam Buckley’s men. Athlone were equal to Fingal for most of the game and should have been ahead a few times before Robbie Benson’s unfortunate OG. Conan Byrne’s strike a few minutes later killed the tie. Tough game awaits as Waterford visit on Friday.
4th Shelbourne:
Shels’ visit to Kildare on Saturday came after they knew the top two had drawn; an easy fixture then to add three points and a few goals onto the league table. By all accounts, however, Dermot Keely’s men struggled for the first half at Station Road, something very clubs have managed to do. But talent often prevails and, after David McAllister grabbed one before the break, Anthony Flood added two more to bring the points home for Shels. Away to Wexford on Friday, should be a close one.
5th Wexford Youths:
David Breen’s strike midway through the second half was enough to secure three points against Mervue United to keep the Youth’s promotion hopes alive. Our very own Conor Meagher praised Wexford after the game, noting himself that “Mervue were truly lucky not to concede at hat full”. Wexford will be delighted with their recent results, with 13 points from the last 15 available. However the hard works starts all over again for Mick Wallace, with Shels at home followed by Waterford United (a) and Sporting Fingal (h).
6th Limerick FC:
Pat Scully witnessed his side’s first win in four games, thanks to goals from Thomas Lyons, David Ryan and Paul Cummins. With the visit of UCD this weekend, it could prove too difficult to keep pace with Wexford a place above them. However, as recent results have shown, Limerick are not the pushovers they were at the start of the season.
7th Monaghan United:
Ten points from the last twelve available has seen Monaghan turn their season around. Barry Clancy and Karl Bermingham were the heroes in Ballybofey and with Longford the visitors this Friday, Monaghan could well grab another three points. Earlier in the season these sides played out a cracker, finishing 3-3, however Monaghan are the side who have improved since then.
8th Mervue United:
Waterford were too much for Mervue, who remain in eighth place. Eleven points from their first eleven games in the First Division has seen them comfortably adapt to the challenge, with confident performances in many of their games so far. This Saturday’s visit to Athlone will be a tough game.
9th Athlone Town:
For seventy minutes Athlone were the better team on Friday, however two goals in seven minutes broke their challenge. Stephen Place was a constant thorn in Sporting’s back line and the final result should not get Brendan Place down too much. Against a lower opposition, Athlone would probably have won this game so no reason to be too down about it. Should be a tight game against Mervue.
10th Finn Harps:
Michael Funston’s equaliser against Monaghan was not enough as Finn Harps again lost. Despite a numerical advantage for 30 minutes, Harps could not respond to Karl Bermingham’s fiftieth minute penalty. Hosting Kildare this weekend, Harps will surely get a win…
11th Longford Town:
Longford scored twice against Limerick on Saturday but it was not enough. Liam Lynch equalised for Longford just after the break, after Thomas Lyons gave the visitors the lead, however two late goals from Limerick rendered Adrian Murphy’s injury time strike irrelevant. Tough to see Longford get anything at Monaghan.
12th Kildare County:
Another loss, this time to Shels. Kildare’s only point of the season came on the opening day against Finn Harps, if they can match that result in Ballybofey we will all be incredibly surprised...
About Gordon Hunt
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