UCD 1 - 1 Finn Harps
Credit:
UCD came from behind to earn a disappointing draw at the Belfield Bowl tonight. Finn Harps took the lead in the 23rd minute following Mark Mukendi’s low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Timmy Purcell levelled matters minutes later latching onto a through ball, and finished smartly past the oncoming keeper.
The game started brightly with both team playing open and expansive football, not afraid to go on the attack. The Students had the better of the early chances with John Reilly going very close in the 10th minute. Reilly turned his defender on the edge of the box, and was unlucky to see his shot whistle past the post.
Finn Harps had a number of chances themselves as they matched UCD in the middle, and were looking to spread the ball wide at every opportunity. Harps nearly punished some slack defending in the 18th minute when defender Evan McMillan lost the ball on the edge of the box, but Harps couldn’t apply a finish.
Likewise, the students were using their wingers and fullbacks to great effect. Fullback Sean Harding was a constant threat down the right, as he looked like he had the beating of his opposite man in the wide areas.
The end to end action continued as both sides looked to make an early break through. It was Harps who eventually broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute. A Packie Mailey free kick was floated into the UCD box, the students failed to clear, as the ball landed at the feet of Mark Mukendi outside the area. The big defender had no hesitation as he controlled the ball and hit a right footed drive which nestled nicely in the UCD goals. Billy Brennan had no chance.
The students responded well to going behind, testing Ciaran Gallagher in Harps goal on a number of occasions, with both Timmy Purcell and Ciaran Kilduff going close on the half hour. Purcell immediately made up for his earlier chance when he slotted home on the 32nd minute. Purcell latched onto a Chris Mulhall through ball on the edge of the area, and coolly finished past the onrushing keeper to level the game.
Both sides continued to attack in the closing stages of the half. David McMillan nearly scored when his header from a Ciaran Nangle corner nearly sneaked in at the far post, but Finn Harps cleared the danger. Then minutes later, Billy Brennan in the UCD goals, nearly made a costly mistake. A long ball booted down the field was gathered by Brennan, but according to the Referee it was outside the box, and he gave the free. The ball was shifted right to goal scorer Mukundi, but his shot flew over the bar by some distance.
The second was a somewhat quieter affair as the tempo of both teams passing wasn’t as quick and direct as it was in the first half. Martin Russell made some whole changes for the second half. Keith Ward and David McMillan came on to replace James Timmons and Ciaran Nangle respectively. They also changed formation, changing from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2, with both Chris Mulhall and John Reilly operating as attacking full backs. Harps didn’t make any changes for the second half.
Both substitutions for the students injected much needed pace through the middle of the park, as Keith Ward and David McMillan looked threatening. Chris Mulhall was unlucky not to give his team the lead after a neat through ball from Keith Ward just before the hour but Mulhall couldn’t apply the finish.
Finn Harps made their first change on the hour as the little man Oisin McManamin who had put in a great shift up front, was replaced by Ruari Harkin.
Harps first real chance of the second half came on 65 mintues when striker Davy McDaid skilfully cut in from the left, but was unlucky to see his shot slide by the post. The students continued to push forward in search of the winner but their passing, and especially their finishing let them down in the final third of the pitch.
Ciaran Kilduff made way for Gavin Falconer on 74 minutes. Moments later the students had a penalty shout when David McMillan was brought down by Mukendi, but the referee waved away their protests.
The students began to throw men forward as they piled on the pressure in the last ten minutes, but to no avail. Harps defended well for the majority of the game, and didn’t seem to falter or loose concentration in the closing stages. Keith Ward had a golden opportunity to score 5 minutes from time, but couldn’t finish from close range.
This draw will be a bitter blow for the students as they have surrendered their position at the top of the table to Shelbourne. Finn Harps were well worth their draw on the night. UCD lacked the creativity and clinical finishing they have been known for this season. The injury to Captain Ronan Finn was also a massive loss in the midfield for UCD tonight. But they can have no complaints about the result.
UCD: Billy Brennan, Ciaran Nangle (David McMillan 45), Andrew Boyle, Evan McMillan, Sean Harding; Chris Mulhall, Robbie Creevy, James Timmons (Keith Ward 45), John Reilly; Timmy Purcell, Ciaran Kilduff (Gavin Falconer 74).
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher, Johnny Havlin, Mark Mukendi, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll; Gary Whoriskey (Mark Brolly 69), Shaun Houston, Shaun McGowan, Christy Conaghan; Davy McDaid, Oisin McMenamin (Ruairi Harkin 62). Booked: Sean Harding (80), Mark Mukendi (58), Ruairi Harkin (72), Davy McDaid (90)
Referee: P.Caescara
Attendance: 250
Extratime man of the match: Mark Mukendi. The Harps defender had a solid game at the back, sniffing out any danger and winning the majority of his headers. He also got on the score sheet on the night.
The game started brightly with both team playing open and expansive football, not afraid to go on the attack. The Students had the better of the early chances with John Reilly going very close in the 10th minute. Reilly turned his defender on the edge of the box, and was unlucky to see his shot whistle past the post.
Finn Harps had a number of chances themselves as they matched UCD in the middle, and were looking to spread the ball wide at every opportunity. Harps nearly punished some slack defending in the 18th minute when defender Evan McMillan lost the ball on the edge of the box, but Harps couldn’t apply a finish.
Likewise, the students were using their wingers and fullbacks to great effect. Fullback Sean Harding was a constant threat down the right, as he looked like he had the beating of his opposite man in the wide areas.
The end to end action continued as both sides looked to make an early break through. It was Harps who eventually broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute. A Packie Mailey free kick was floated into the UCD box, the students failed to clear, as the ball landed at the feet of Mark Mukendi outside the area. The big defender had no hesitation as he controlled the ball and hit a right footed drive which nestled nicely in the UCD goals. Billy Brennan had no chance.
The students responded well to going behind, testing Ciaran Gallagher in Harps goal on a number of occasions, with both Timmy Purcell and Ciaran Kilduff going close on the half hour. Purcell immediately made up for his earlier chance when he slotted home on the 32nd minute. Purcell latched onto a Chris Mulhall through ball on the edge of the area, and coolly finished past the onrushing keeper to level the game.
Both sides continued to attack in the closing stages of the half. David McMillan nearly scored when his header from a Ciaran Nangle corner nearly sneaked in at the far post, but Finn Harps cleared the danger. Then minutes later, Billy Brennan in the UCD goals, nearly made a costly mistake. A long ball booted down the field was gathered by Brennan, but according to the Referee it was outside the box, and he gave the free. The ball was shifted right to goal scorer Mukundi, but his shot flew over the bar by some distance.
The second was a somewhat quieter affair as the tempo of both teams passing wasn’t as quick and direct as it was in the first half. Martin Russell made some whole changes for the second half. Keith Ward and David McMillan came on to replace James Timmons and Ciaran Nangle respectively. They also changed formation, changing from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2, with both Chris Mulhall and John Reilly operating as attacking full backs. Harps didn’t make any changes for the second half.
Both substitutions for the students injected much needed pace through the middle of the park, as Keith Ward and David McMillan looked threatening. Chris Mulhall was unlucky not to give his team the lead after a neat through ball from Keith Ward just before the hour but Mulhall couldn’t apply the finish.
Finn Harps made their first change on the hour as the little man Oisin McManamin who had put in a great shift up front, was replaced by Ruari Harkin.
Harps first real chance of the second half came on 65 mintues when striker Davy McDaid skilfully cut in from the left, but was unlucky to see his shot slide by the post. The students continued to push forward in search of the winner but their passing, and especially their finishing let them down in the final third of the pitch.
Ciaran Kilduff made way for Gavin Falconer on 74 minutes. Moments later the students had a penalty shout when David McMillan was brought down by Mukendi, but the referee waved away their protests.
The students began to throw men forward as they piled on the pressure in the last ten minutes, but to no avail. Harps defended well for the majority of the game, and didn’t seem to falter or loose concentration in the closing stages. Keith Ward had a golden opportunity to score 5 minutes from time, but couldn’t finish from close range.
This draw will be a bitter blow for the students as they have surrendered their position at the top of the table to Shelbourne. Finn Harps were well worth their draw on the night. UCD lacked the creativity and clinical finishing they have been known for this season. The injury to Captain Ronan Finn was also a massive loss in the midfield for UCD tonight. But they can have no complaints about the result.
UCD: Billy Brennan, Ciaran Nangle (David McMillan 45), Andrew Boyle, Evan McMillan, Sean Harding; Chris Mulhall, Robbie Creevy, James Timmons (Keith Ward 45), John Reilly; Timmy Purcell, Ciaran Kilduff (Gavin Falconer 74).
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher, Johnny Havlin, Mark Mukendi, Packie Mailey, Ciaran Coll; Gary Whoriskey (Mark Brolly 69), Shaun Houston, Shaun McGowan, Christy Conaghan; Davy McDaid, Oisin McMenamin (Ruairi Harkin 62). Booked: Sean Harding (80), Mark Mukendi (58), Ruairi Harkin (72), Davy McDaid (90)
Referee: P.Caescara
Attendance: 250
Extratime man of the match: Mark Mukendi. The Harps defender had a solid game at the back, sniffing out any danger and winning the majority of his headers. He also got on the score sheet on the night.
