Wallace - The better team won
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Wexford Youths' boss Mick Wallace was gracious in defeat following his
side’s game with UCD on Friday night. Two first half goals for the
College was enough to see off the Youths, and Wallace had no
complaints with the result.
“We were probably lucky to be only two goals down at half-time as UCD were well on top having played some very good football. We gave them too much time and space and we paid the price for it. We competed in the second half and as a result it ended being quite even, but I think 2-0 was just about a fair scoreline.”
UCD took the lead through Paul Corry in the first half as he flicked in Chris Mulhall’s corner. The concession of goals from set-pieces is always frustrating for any manager, and it was the same for Wallace. “It was a disappointing goal, and to tell the truth, both goals conceded were disappointing from our point of view. But having said that, most goals that are conceded disappoint somebody, you very rarely concede a goal that you’re not disappointed about.
“Sometimes someone does something out of the blue and you can do nothing about it, but if a guy gets a strike from 25 yards and sends it into the top corner, you have to ask yourself ‘where did he get the space’. Now set-pieces are something you put a bit of work into, and you apportion responsibility. If somebody doesn’t honour their responsibility on the set-piece, then a player gets an opportunity to score. That’s what happened tonight.”
When asked if he thought UCD would go on to win the league title, Wallace was keen to stress that the league title race was far from over. “There’s very little difference between the top teams. I believe Waterford lost tonight so that makes it difficult for them, and there’s very little between the other three top teams so it’s open between them.
“I think UCD are the nicest football side in the division, but having said that, they don’t like a battle so much. We beat them here back in April because we worked very hard, and we made a fair fight of it in the second half because we worked very hard. If UCD want to develop as a side, even though they are already a lovely footballing side, I think they need to develop a bit more of a stomach for a battle.”
Finally, as an aficionado of Italian football, Wallace gave an accurate, if unsurprising forecast on the big clash between the Republic of Ireland and Italy in Croke Park. “I expect a draw. The Italians are obviously very strong, but they generally only do what they need to do, and a draw will suit both sides.”
“We were probably lucky to be only two goals down at half-time as UCD were well on top having played some very good football. We gave them too much time and space and we paid the price for it. We competed in the second half and as a result it ended being quite even, but I think 2-0 was just about a fair scoreline.”
UCD took the lead through Paul Corry in the first half as he flicked in Chris Mulhall’s corner. The concession of goals from set-pieces is always frustrating for any manager, and it was the same for Wallace. “It was a disappointing goal, and to tell the truth, both goals conceded were disappointing from our point of view. But having said that, most goals that are conceded disappoint somebody, you very rarely concede a goal that you’re not disappointed about.
“Sometimes someone does something out of the blue and you can do nothing about it, but if a guy gets a strike from 25 yards and sends it into the top corner, you have to ask yourself ‘where did he get the space’. Now set-pieces are something you put a bit of work into, and you apportion responsibility. If somebody doesn’t honour their responsibility on the set-piece, then a player gets an opportunity to score. That’s what happened tonight.”
When asked if he thought UCD would go on to win the league title, Wallace was keen to stress that the league title race was far from over. “There’s very little difference between the top teams. I believe Waterford lost tonight so that makes it difficult for them, and there’s very little between the other three top teams so it’s open between them.
“I think UCD are the nicest football side in the division, but having said that, they don’t like a battle so much. We beat them here back in April because we worked very hard, and we made a fair fight of it in the second half because we worked very hard. If UCD want to develop as a side, even though they are already a lovely footballing side, I think they need to develop a bit more of a stomach for a battle.”
Finally, as an aficionado of Italian football, Wallace gave an accurate, if unsurprising forecast on the big clash between the Republic of Ireland and Italy in Croke Park. “I expect a draw. The Italians are obviously very strong, but they generally only do what they need to do, and a draw will suit both sides.”
