First Division Round-up: Series 28
Credit:
Both UCD and Shelbourne will be delighted that, following their draw, the chasing duo of Sporting Fingal and Waterford United failed to capitalise. Elsewhere Wexford Youths, Longford Town and Mervue United each grabbed important wins
1st UCD:
UCD twice trailed at Tolka Park however goals from Brian Shortall and David McMillan – the latter after Shortall had been dismissed for a shove on David Cassidy – earned them a point. A loss would have been a massive blow to their promotion ambitions however this result, coupled with other results over the weekend, strengthened their position at the top.
A visit from Wexford Youths follows. Mick Wallace’s side were the first team to beat the students this season, this one could be tricky.
2nd Shelbourne:
Shelbourne fans saw David McAllister twice give their side the lead at Tolka Park on Friday, however, in a game of constant chances a draw was not entirely inconceivable. This result could be construed as a missed opportunity but as with UCD, Shels will be quite happy with other results over the weekend.
The game in hand which Shelbourne enjoy over UCD and Sporting was against Waterford United however bad weather postponed that midweek game. The postponement leaves them second on goal difference, with a trip to Morton Stadium to follow.
3rd Sporting Fingal:
extratime.ie columnist Conan Byrne and Alan Kirby grabbed two goals in two minutes against Monaghan United on Friday night however the hosts looked the better side for much of the game and shocked Liam Buckley’s men with two strikes of their own. A huge opportunity lost for Fingal with games running out to catch the front two.
However, another great chance comes this weekend when Shelbourne come to play.
4th Waterford United:
Vinnie Sullivan’s strike just after the break in Ballybofey was not enough for Waterford to close right up on the front two. It was always going to be a tough trip but it was one which a team harbouring automatic promotion should get a win from.
Yet still there is a good chance for United to spoil the party. Four of their remaining six fixtures are at home, including a visit from Shelbourne. Their final game of the season is in Belfield and as yet could be a title decider. Hosting Mons next.
5th Wexford Youths:
Mick Wallace’s men saw off the threat of Limerick thanks to goals from Gary Sheehan and David Breen which saw them consolidate their fifth place in the league.
The Youths still have a minor role to play in where the top four will finish, which comes this weekend as they visit Belfield Bowl. Wexford won there earlier in the season and were only narrowly beaten on their own patch by the Students. Wallace sets his team up similarly to that of the league leaders, with very little direct passing evident. This should be a really good game.
6th Monaghan United:
Monaghan enjoyed two great results in series 27, with a more than deserved draw at home to title chasing Sporting Fingal followed by a win against Tuesday night’s visitors, Finn Harps. Darragh Hanaphy and Alan Byrne got the goals against Sporting in a game that saw United dominate for large spells. Indeed in the closing stages, goalkeeper Aaron McCarey almost won the game directly from a hopeful punt up the pitch. Our very own Peter Hughes said Fingal were “lucky” to escape with a draw.
Four days later and Finn Harps, fresh from their well earned draw against other promotion candidates Waterford United, came to Kingspan Century Park. Shane Grimes got the winner however Monaghan struggled to replicate their previous form as Harps did all they could to get a result. However, the win closes the gap on the Youths to just three points. Waterford visit next.
7th Limerick FC:
Well beaten by Wexford Youths, Limerick they lost any real hope of closing up on fifth place. Hosting Kildare this weekend, Pat Scully’s men should get back to winning ways.
8th Finn Harps:
Packie Mailey scored a late equaliser to stun Waterford United on Saturday, as Harps enjoyed their own little role in the promotion battle. Unfortunately for the Ballybofey side, their visit to Monaghan on Tuesday, despite seeing Harps play well throughout, resulted in a narrow loss which leaves them eighth.
Travelling to Lissywoolen to play Athlone next.
9th Athlone Town:
Athlone dominated proceedings in Flancare Park, yet managed to lose three nil, as Longford closed up and Athlone saw their gap to eleventh fall to just one point.
Brendan Place’s side will look to bounce back at home to Finn Harps next.
10th Longford Town:
Brian McCarthy and Gary Curran each scored against the run of play as Longford found a way to beat Athlone despite constant pressure from the visitors. Adrian Murphy's late strike flattered the hosts further yet a 3-0 win is more than enough to close up on ninth place.
11th Mervue United:
In a bottom of the table clash, it was important that Mervue got the win to halt any worries of finishing last. The victory, thanks to Pat Hoban’s second half strike, sees Mervue close up on both Longford and Athlone in what looks like an interesting battle.
12th Kildare County:
Losing at home to Mervue kills off any hope of climbing up the table for the first time this season. Ten points adrift now is far too much.
1st UCD:
UCD twice trailed at Tolka Park however goals from Brian Shortall and David McMillan – the latter after Shortall had been dismissed for a shove on David Cassidy – earned them a point. A loss would have been a massive blow to their promotion ambitions however this result, coupled with other results over the weekend, strengthened their position at the top.
A visit from Wexford Youths follows. Mick Wallace’s side were the first team to beat the students this season, this one could be tricky.
2nd Shelbourne:
Shelbourne fans saw David McAllister twice give their side the lead at Tolka Park on Friday, however, in a game of constant chances a draw was not entirely inconceivable. This result could be construed as a missed opportunity but as with UCD, Shels will be quite happy with other results over the weekend.
The game in hand which Shelbourne enjoy over UCD and Sporting was against Waterford United however bad weather postponed that midweek game. The postponement leaves them second on goal difference, with a trip to Morton Stadium to follow.
3rd Sporting Fingal:
extratime.ie columnist Conan Byrne and Alan Kirby grabbed two goals in two minutes against Monaghan United on Friday night however the hosts looked the better side for much of the game and shocked Liam Buckley’s men with two strikes of their own. A huge opportunity lost for Fingal with games running out to catch the front two.
However, another great chance comes this weekend when Shelbourne come to play.
4th Waterford United:
Vinnie Sullivan’s strike just after the break in Ballybofey was not enough for Waterford to close right up on the front two. It was always going to be a tough trip but it was one which a team harbouring automatic promotion should get a win from.
Yet still there is a good chance for United to spoil the party. Four of their remaining six fixtures are at home, including a visit from Shelbourne. Their final game of the season is in Belfield and as yet could be a title decider. Hosting Mons next.
5th Wexford Youths:
Mick Wallace’s men saw off the threat of Limerick thanks to goals from Gary Sheehan and David Breen which saw them consolidate their fifth place in the league.
The Youths still have a minor role to play in where the top four will finish, which comes this weekend as they visit Belfield Bowl. Wexford won there earlier in the season and were only narrowly beaten on their own patch by the Students. Wallace sets his team up similarly to that of the league leaders, with very little direct passing evident. This should be a really good game.
6th Monaghan United:
Monaghan enjoyed two great results in series 27, with a more than deserved draw at home to title chasing Sporting Fingal followed by a win against Tuesday night’s visitors, Finn Harps. Darragh Hanaphy and Alan Byrne got the goals against Sporting in a game that saw United dominate for large spells. Indeed in the closing stages, goalkeeper Aaron McCarey almost won the game directly from a hopeful punt up the pitch. Our very own Peter Hughes said Fingal were “lucky” to escape with a draw.
Four days later and Finn Harps, fresh from their well earned draw against other promotion candidates Waterford United, came to Kingspan Century Park. Shane Grimes got the winner however Monaghan struggled to replicate their previous form as Harps did all they could to get a result. However, the win closes the gap on the Youths to just three points. Waterford visit next.
7th Limerick FC:
Well beaten by Wexford Youths, Limerick they lost any real hope of closing up on fifth place. Hosting Kildare this weekend, Pat Scully’s men should get back to winning ways.
8th Finn Harps:
Packie Mailey scored a late equaliser to stun Waterford United on Saturday, as Harps enjoyed their own little role in the promotion battle. Unfortunately for the Ballybofey side, their visit to Monaghan on Tuesday, despite seeing Harps play well throughout, resulted in a narrow loss which leaves them eighth.
Travelling to Lissywoolen to play Athlone next.
9th Athlone Town:
Athlone dominated proceedings in Flancare Park, yet managed to lose three nil, as Longford closed up and Athlone saw their gap to eleventh fall to just one point.
Brendan Place’s side will look to bounce back at home to Finn Harps next.
10th Longford Town:
Brian McCarthy and Gary Curran each scored against the run of play as Longford found a way to beat Athlone despite constant pressure from the visitors. Adrian Murphy's late strike flattered the hosts further yet a 3-0 win is more than enough to close up on ninth place.
11th Mervue United:
In a bottom of the table clash, it was important that Mervue got the win to halt any worries of finishing last. The victory, thanks to Pat Hoban’s second half strike, sees Mervue close up on both Longford and Athlone in what looks like an interesting battle.
12th Kildare County:
Losing at home to Mervue kills off any hope of climbing up the table for the first time this season. Ten points adrift now is far too much.
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