First Division Round-up: Series 29
Credit:
This series was notable for Waterford United losing integral ground in the race promotion as they lost to Monaghan United while elsewhere there were wins for UCD, Kildare County, Longford Town and Finn Harps.
1st UCD:
Paul Corry and Ciaran Kilduff each netted in the first half to maintain the Students’ good form in the run in. This was one of the more difficult fixtures which Martin Russell’s side had to face as the finale beckons: Job done.
Away in Mervue next.
2nd Shelbourne:
And so Shelbourne yet again benefit from a draw against a promotion challenger. It looked bleak at one stage in Morton on Friday as ten man Sporting Fingal managed to build a two goal lead midway through the second half. However wave after wave of Shelbourne attack eventually forced a mistake from Darren Quigley in the Fingal goal. A few minutes later and Peter Hynes grabbed an important equaliser for Dermot Keely’s men who should be the far happier of the two sides after a few days reflection. As, despite opportunities to win the game, the draw keeps Shelbourne’s fate in their own hands.
Home to Athlone tomorrow.
3rd Sporting Fingal:
extratime.ie columnist Conan Byrne has flown up the goal-scoring charts with another brace on Friday. Now top scorer, Byrne has grabbed twelve goals since July however it hasn’t been enough to put Fingal in a strong position ahead of the final four games.
On Friday, Robert Bayly’s dismissal was almost forgotten as Byrne scored twice soon after but a draw was the best Liam Buckley’s men could do. Five points off the top, Fingal will be hard pressed to overhaul both sides above them. Away to Longford on Saturday.
4th Waterford United:
Going into the series in fourth, Stephen Henderson’s side were still in a very strong position with a game in hand as well as fixtures to come against the top two. However, losing at home to Monaghan on Friday all but ended their hopes of automatic promotion. Now the chase for second looks the most likely for Waterford.
Away to Limerick next.
5th Monaghan United:
Monaghan enjoyed two great results in series 27, and followed it up with a fantastic 2-0 win in Waterford on Friday. Brian Gartland’s early strike was added to by David Freeman as Monaghan pulled off one of their best results this season. Now fifth, Monaghan host bottom side Kildare tomorrow in what should see them consolidate that position.
6th Wexford Youths:
Wexford’s game in UCD looked to be a close match on paper however the Students were too much for Mick Wallace’s men. Well beaten before half time, the Youths must now look to tomorrow night’s game against Finn Harps to get back on track.
It is the first time Wexford have dropped below Fifth since the early weeks of the season.
7th Limerick FC:
Losing to Kildare is poor, losing at home to Kildare is poorer than that cookery show with Maeve Higgins on RTE. Stephen O’Flynn and Robbie Kelleher both scored just before the break to draw level for Limerick however it wasn’t enough as they dropped more points against the bottom placed side, having drawn 0-0 earlier in the season.
Home to Waterford next.
8th Finn Harps:
Stephen McLaughlin, Packie Mailey, Michael Funston (2), Conor Gethins and Mark Moran all scored for Harps in Athlone on Friday in what was the visitors’ biggest victory this season. Almost 20% of all Harps’ goals this season were scored on Friday and puts them in a good mood ahead of their visit to Wexford.
9th Longford Town:
Gary Curran’s first half effort earned Longford all three points in Mervue as they leapfrogged Athlone into ninth in the league. Home to Fingal next
10th Athlone Town:
Destroyed by Finn Harps. Tough visit to Tolka follows.
11th Mervue United:
Lost narrowly to Longford, remain second bottom. It seems the bottom sides face tough games this weekend, UCD visit Galway on Saturday.
12th Kildare County:
Great win against Limerick keeps Kildare’s slim hopes of rising off the foot of the table alive. David Jackson and Darren O’Brien gave County a great start in Limerick as they stormed to a two goal lead, only to surrender it just before the break. However, Jackson’s second and Kildare’s third not long after half time got them their fourth win of the season. Travelling to Monaghan next.
1st UCD:
Paul Corry and Ciaran Kilduff each netted in the first half to maintain the Students’ good form in the run in. This was one of the more difficult fixtures which Martin Russell’s side had to face as the finale beckons: Job done.
Away in Mervue next.
2nd Shelbourne:
And so Shelbourne yet again benefit from a draw against a promotion challenger. It looked bleak at one stage in Morton on Friday as ten man Sporting Fingal managed to build a two goal lead midway through the second half. However wave after wave of Shelbourne attack eventually forced a mistake from Darren Quigley in the Fingal goal. A few minutes later and Peter Hynes grabbed an important equaliser for Dermot Keely’s men who should be the far happier of the two sides after a few days reflection. As, despite opportunities to win the game, the draw keeps Shelbourne’s fate in their own hands.
Home to Athlone tomorrow.
3rd Sporting Fingal:
extratime.ie columnist Conan Byrne has flown up the goal-scoring charts with another brace on Friday. Now top scorer, Byrne has grabbed twelve goals since July however it hasn’t been enough to put Fingal in a strong position ahead of the final four games.
On Friday, Robert Bayly’s dismissal was almost forgotten as Byrne scored twice soon after but a draw was the best Liam Buckley’s men could do. Five points off the top, Fingal will be hard pressed to overhaul both sides above them. Away to Longford on Saturday.
4th Waterford United:
Going into the series in fourth, Stephen Henderson’s side were still in a very strong position with a game in hand as well as fixtures to come against the top two. However, losing at home to Monaghan on Friday all but ended their hopes of automatic promotion. Now the chase for second looks the most likely for Waterford.
Away to Limerick next.
5th Monaghan United:
Monaghan enjoyed two great results in series 27, and followed it up with a fantastic 2-0 win in Waterford on Friday. Brian Gartland’s early strike was added to by David Freeman as Monaghan pulled off one of their best results this season. Now fifth, Monaghan host bottom side Kildare tomorrow in what should see them consolidate that position.
6th Wexford Youths:
Wexford’s game in UCD looked to be a close match on paper however the Students were too much for Mick Wallace’s men. Well beaten before half time, the Youths must now look to tomorrow night’s game against Finn Harps to get back on track.
It is the first time Wexford have dropped below Fifth since the early weeks of the season.
7th Limerick FC:
Losing to Kildare is poor, losing at home to Kildare is poorer than that cookery show with Maeve Higgins on RTE. Stephen O’Flynn and Robbie Kelleher both scored just before the break to draw level for Limerick however it wasn’t enough as they dropped more points against the bottom placed side, having drawn 0-0 earlier in the season.
Home to Waterford next.
8th Finn Harps:
Stephen McLaughlin, Packie Mailey, Michael Funston (2), Conor Gethins and Mark Moran all scored for Harps in Athlone on Friday in what was the visitors’ biggest victory this season. Almost 20% of all Harps’ goals this season were scored on Friday and puts them in a good mood ahead of their visit to Wexford.
9th Longford Town:
Gary Curran’s first half effort earned Longford all three points in Mervue as they leapfrogged Athlone into ninth in the league. Home to Fingal next
10th Athlone Town:
Destroyed by Finn Harps. Tough visit to Tolka follows.
11th Mervue United:
Lost narrowly to Longford, remain second bottom. It seems the bottom sides face tough games this weekend, UCD visit Galway on Saturday.
12th Kildare County:
Great win against Limerick keeps Kildare’s slim hopes of rising off the foot of the table alive. David Jackson and Darren O’Brien gave County a great start in Limerick as they stormed to a two goal lead, only to surrender it just before the break. However, Jackson’s second and Kildare’s third not long after half time got them their fourth win of the season. Travelling to Monaghan next.
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