Mervue United 1 - 2 U.C.D.
Credit:
U.C.D. moved four points clear at the top of the First Division as two second
half goals secured a vital three points against a resilient ten man Mervue United side.
Second half goals from Paul Corry and a penalty from Ronan Finn put the league leaders in front, with the home side scoring in injury time through Nigel Keady. Mervue played the entire second half with ten men as Rory Gaffney was dismissed for two yellow cards in 42nd minute.
U.C.D. started well and David McMillan had the students' first chance of the game but he headed straight at Eoin Martin from a free header after just two minutes. After a bad clearance on 13 minutes by Mervue's Eric Browne, Keith Ward curled an effort over Martin’s crossbar.
U.C.D. then came within a whisker of opening the scoring twice within two minutes. First, on 17 minutes David McMillan saw his effort fly just past the post, while a minutes later right back Sean Harding strode forward through the middle of the park before unleashing an effort that flew inches wide of the post again.
The home side rallied, and a good run down the right by Nicky Curran saw him beat three U.C.D. players before cutting inside and shooting over Ger Barron’s crossbar from just outside the box on 22 minutes. On the half hour mark Evan McMillan headed another chance straight at Eoin Martin, while three minutes later McMillan cut out a dangerous low cross into box by Rory Gaffney at the other end.
Three minutes from the break the home team were reduced to ten men as Gaffney received his second yellow card after a foul on Ciaran Nangle and received his marching orders from referee Mark Gough. In first half injury time David McMillan worked his way into the box before getting in a shot that Martin saved well with his feet for the last action of the half.
After a scoreless opening half the game came to life after the break as U.C.D. took full advantage with the extra man. The students had the ball in the net almost from the kick off as Ciaran Kilduff beat Martin but the assistant referee flagged for offside, a decision which saw both Kilduff and David McMillan booked for their protests.
At the other end of the pitch Pat Hoban fired a free kick just over the students crossbar. On 54 minutes Keith Ward had his shot palmed away by Martin while a minute later Paul Corry had his free kick tipped over the crossbar by the busy 'keeper.
In the end the constant pressure paid off, as three minutes later the students were in front as Paul Corry stooped low to head in a Ward cross from the right as a previously alert home defence were caught napping. Ward then hit the angle of the goalpost with a drive two minutes later and Corry had another shot well saved by Martin.
U.C.D. substitute Chris Mulhall was next to test Martin but his shot from the edge of the box was once again well saved by the over-worked keeper. On 66 minutes an excellent shot from Sean Harding saw Martin pull off a brilliant one handed save at his left hand post.
U.C.D. finally doubled their lead with seven minutes remaining after Ward was adjudged to have been pushed over in the box by Mark Ludden and Ronan Finn sent Martin the wrong way from the penalty spot. U.C.D. had an amazing 28 efforts on goal with 15 on target, with most of those in a dominant second half period.
Mervue, though, kept playing until the end and were rewarded two minutes into injury time as Nigel Keady powered home an excellent delivery from a Mark Ludden corner kick to make it 2-1.
With three games left Mervue make the long trip to the RSC on Tuesday night to take on Waterford Utd while U.C.D.’s next game is at home to Longford Town next Friday night.
Mervue United: Eoin Martin, Mixie Harty (Nigel Keady 56 mins), Mark Ludden, Nicky Curran, Eric Browne, Kevin Crehan, Pat Hoban (Martin Conneely 77 mins), Gary Traynor, Rory Gaffney, David O’Dowd, David Goldbey (Paul Scally 66 mins).
Subs not used: Rynal Browne, Mike Tierney.
U.C.D.: Gerard Barron; Sean Harding, Ciaran Nangle, Andrew Boyle, Evan McMillan; Paul Corry, Greg Bolger, Keith Ward, Ronan Finn, David McMillan (Peter McMahon 53 mins), Ciaran Kilduff (Chris Mulhall 53 mins).
Subs not used: Brian Shortall, Robbie Creevy, Billy Brennan.
Referee: Mark Gough.
Man of the Match: Eoin Martin (Mervue) – Kept UCD at bay for long periods of the game with some excellent stops and in particular one smashing one handed save from a brilliant Sean Harding effort the highlight.
Second half goals from Paul Corry and a penalty from Ronan Finn put the league leaders in front, with the home side scoring in injury time through Nigel Keady. Mervue played the entire second half with ten men as Rory Gaffney was dismissed for two yellow cards in 42nd minute.
U.C.D. started well and David McMillan had the students' first chance of the game but he headed straight at Eoin Martin from a free header after just two minutes. After a bad clearance on 13 minutes by Mervue's Eric Browne, Keith Ward curled an effort over Martin’s crossbar.
U.C.D. then came within a whisker of opening the scoring twice within two minutes. First, on 17 minutes David McMillan saw his effort fly just past the post, while a minutes later right back Sean Harding strode forward through the middle of the park before unleashing an effort that flew inches wide of the post again.
The home side rallied, and a good run down the right by Nicky Curran saw him beat three U.C.D. players before cutting inside and shooting over Ger Barron’s crossbar from just outside the box on 22 minutes. On the half hour mark Evan McMillan headed another chance straight at Eoin Martin, while three minutes later McMillan cut out a dangerous low cross into box by Rory Gaffney at the other end.
Three minutes from the break the home team were reduced to ten men as Gaffney received his second yellow card after a foul on Ciaran Nangle and received his marching orders from referee Mark Gough. In first half injury time David McMillan worked his way into the box before getting in a shot that Martin saved well with his feet for the last action of the half.
After a scoreless opening half the game came to life after the break as U.C.D. took full advantage with the extra man. The students had the ball in the net almost from the kick off as Ciaran Kilduff beat Martin but the assistant referee flagged for offside, a decision which saw both Kilduff and David McMillan booked for their protests.
At the other end of the pitch Pat Hoban fired a free kick just over the students crossbar. On 54 minutes Keith Ward had his shot palmed away by Martin while a minute later Paul Corry had his free kick tipped over the crossbar by the busy 'keeper.
In the end the constant pressure paid off, as three minutes later the students were in front as Paul Corry stooped low to head in a Ward cross from the right as a previously alert home defence were caught napping. Ward then hit the angle of the goalpost with a drive two minutes later and Corry had another shot well saved by Martin.
U.C.D. substitute Chris Mulhall was next to test Martin but his shot from the edge of the box was once again well saved by the over-worked keeper. On 66 minutes an excellent shot from Sean Harding saw Martin pull off a brilliant one handed save at his left hand post.
U.C.D. finally doubled their lead with seven minutes remaining after Ward was adjudged to have been pushed over in the box by Mark Ludden and Ronan Finn sent Martin the wrong way from the penalty spot. U.C.D. had an amazing 28 efforts on goal with 15 on target, with most of those in a dominant second half period.
Mervue, though, kept playing until the end and were rewarded two minutes into injury time as Nigel Keady powered home an excellent delivery from a Mark Ludden corner kick to make it 2-1.
With three games left Mervue make the long trip to the RSC on Tuesday night to take on Waterford Utd while U.C.D.’s next game is at home to Longford Town next Friday night.
Mervue United: Eoin Martin, Mixie Harty (Nigel Keady 56 mins), Mark Ludden, Nicky Curran, Eric Browne, Kevin Crehan, Pat Hoban (Martin Conneely 77 mins), Gary Traynor, Rory Gaffney, David O’Dowd, David Goldbey (Paul Scally 66 mins).
Subs not used: Rynal Browne, Mike Tierney.
U.C.D.: Gerard Barron; Sean Harding, Ciaran Nangle, Andrew Boyle, Evan McMillan; Paul Corry, Greg Bolger, Keith Ward, Ronan Finn, David McMillan (Peter McMahon 53 mins), Ciaran Kilduff (Chris Mulhall 53 mins).
Subs not used: Brian Shortall, Robbie Creevy, Billy Brennan.
Referee: Mark Gough.
Man of the Match: Eoin Martin (Mervue) – Kept UCD at bay for long periods of the game with some excellent stops and in particular one smashing one handed save from a brilliant Sean Harding effort the highlight.
About Terry Flaherty
Terry has been writing for Extratime since 2009 and is based out west in Galway covering Mervue United, Salthill Devon, and now this season the newly formed, Galway FC. Terry has written articles for many … View Full Profile