UCD 3 - 0 Monaghan United
Credit:
UCD kept up the pressure at the top of the First Division table with a
3-0 routine win against a poor Monaghan United at the Belfield Bowl.
Always in control, the Students were by no means flattered by the
score line and were rarely threatened by Monaghan as they showed there
is a sizeable gap between the top four and rest in the First
Division.
Both sides set out with five men in midfield; however UCD’s formation proved to be much more attacking with Ronan Finn and Peter McMahon breaking constantly from the centre to support Ciaran Kilduff. The pair controlled the game and were instrumental in every attacking move from the Students. Monaghan were forced to make a change after only eight minutes with centre half Conor McMahon coming off with what appeared to a hamstring strain. UCD had all the early play and went close to scoring through McMahon and David McMillan.
They took a deserved lead on 25 minutes when the skilful McMahon was tripped in the box by Paul Whelan, the referee’s decision to award a penalty brought no complaints from the Monaghan players. Finn scored with a powerful low shot to the left hand corner that only just evaded Aaron McCarey’s dive. The Students spent the rest of the half enjoying all the possession with Monaghan very rarely making it out of their half. Despite this clear cut chances were at a premium until, on the stroke of half time, centre half Evan McMillan saw his header brilliantly tipped around the post by the impressive McCarey.
Ten minutes into the second half McCarey came to his teams' rescue again. The lively John Reilly beat his man and cut in from the right wing to find Ciaran Kilduff, his first time shot appeared destined for the bottom corner of the net only for McCarey to dive full length to keep in out. The inevitable second goal came following a beautiful passage of play that involved over a dozen passes. David McMillan and McMahon were involved in the move before Finn played an excellently dinked ball in behind the defence to Kilduff, whose first time cross was tapped in by Reilly.
As the game petered out UCD empted their bench as manager Martin Russell knew the game was safe. All three substitutes looked lively when introduced and all had decent attempts at goal but it was Graham Rusk who rounded off the win with a neat third in injury time. He played a 1-2 with McMahon and was blocked only to regain the ball and side foot it into the corner of the net.
Despite the Monaghan side working hard to the end, UCD looked a class above their opponents throughout and will be looking to push on in pursuit of promotion for the remaining eight games of the season. Monaghan appear destined to spend their foreseeable future in the mid table obscurity of the First Division. With only one team gaining automatic promotion every game is now vital for College but the matches against Shelbourne and Waterford could shape what division they play in next season.
UCD (4-5-1): Barron; Shorthall, Evan McMillian, Boyle, Nangle; Reilly (Ward 76), Corry, Finn©, McMahon, David McMilian (Falconer 82); Kilduff (Rusk 76)
Subs not used: Harding, Brennan.
Yellow cards: Rusk.
Monaghan (4-5-1): McCarey; McKevitt, Whelan, McMahon (Flynn 13), Grimes; Hanaphy (Sean Brennan 74), O’Connor, McCrossan, Clancy, Karl Brennan; Freeman.
Subs not used: Gartland, Donnolly, Kennedy.
Yellow cards: Whelan, O’Connor, Clancy.
Extratime.ie Man of the match: Ronan Finn - scored the first and made the second with the best piece of skill of the night. He looks a Premier Division player and was at the centre of all his sides’ attacks throughout the night.
Attendance: 100 (estimate)
Both sides set out with five men in midfield; however UCD’s formation proved to be much more attacking with Ronan Finn and Peter McMahon breaking constantly from the centre to support Ciaran Kilduff. The pair controlled the game and were instrumental in every attacking move from the Students. Monaghan were forced to make a change after only eight minutes with centre half Conor McMahon coming off with what appeared to a hamstring strain. UCD had all the early play and went close to scoring through McMahon and David McMillan.
They took a deserved lead on 25 minutes when the skilful McMahon was tripped in the box by Paul Whelan, the referee’s decision to award a penalty brought no complaints from the Monaghan players. Finn scored with a powerful low shot to the left hand corner that only just evaded Aaron McCarey’s dive. The Students spent the rest of the half enjoying all the possession with Monaghan very rarely making it out of their half. Despite this clear cut chances were at a premium until, on the stroke of half time, centre half Evan McMillan saw his header brilliantly tipped around the post by the impressive McCarey.
Ten minutes into the second half McCarey came to his teams' rescue again. The lively John Reilly beat his man and cut in from the right wing to find Ciaran Kilduff, his first time shot appeared destined for the bottom corner of the net only for McCarey to dive full length to keep in out. The inevitable second goal came following a beautiful passage of play that involved over a dozen passes. David McMillan and McMahon were involved in the move before Finn played an excellently dinked ball in behind the defence to Kilduff, whose first time cross was tapped in by Reilly.
As the game petered out UCD empted their bench as manager Martin Russell knew the game was safe. All three substitutes looked lively when introduced and all had decent attempts at goal but it was Graham Rusk who rounded off the win with a neat third in injury time. He played a 1-2 with McMahon and was blocked only to regain the ball and side foot it into the corner of the net.
Despite the Monaghan side working hard to the end, UCD looked a class above their opponents throughout and will be looking to push on in pursuit of promotion for the remaining eight games of the season. Monaghan appear destined to spend their foreseeable future in the mid table obscurity of the First Division. With only one team gaining automatic promotion every game is now vital for College but the matches against Shelbourne and Waterford could shape what division they play in next season.
UCD (4-5-1): Barron; Shorthall, Evan McMillian, Boyle, Nangle; Reilly (Ward 76), Corry, Finn©, McMahon, David McMilian (Falconer 82); Kilduff (Rusk 76)
Subs not used: Harding, Brennan.
Yellow cards: Rusk.
Monaghan (4-5-1): McCarey; McKevitt, Whelan, McMahon (Flynn 13), Grimes; Hanaphy (Sean Brennan 74), O’Connor, McCrossan, Clancy, Karl Brennan; Freeman.
Subs not used: Gartland, Donnolly, Kennedy.
Yellow cards: Whelan, O’Connor, Clancy.
Extratime.ie Man of the match: Ronan Finn - scored the first and made the second with the best piece of skill of the night. He looks a Premier Division player and was at the centre of all his sides’ attacks throughout the night.
Attendance: 100 (estimate)
