Mahon: Byrne should be on six goals

UCD manager Pete Mahon has revealed to extratime.ie that he believes his main striker Paul Byrne should already have six goals to his name this season.

After his side conceded a late goal at Tolka Park, Mahon told extratime.ie - "I said to Paul Byrne he definitely should have about six goals so far this year, I think that's fair. Against Derry he had some great chances, I know he scored but he had some great opportunities. He had a chance up in Finn Harps, he had two good chances in Cork and then two more tonight - I would have expected him to have, at this stage of the season, six goals"

Byrne was again impressive for the Students last Friday when they drew one all at Tolka Park with Shamrock Rovers. The former Cherry Orchard player should have perhaps bagged a brace and led his side to their first away win of the season.

With UCD already a goal ahead Byrne got himself into a great position in the box and was picked out by teammate Shane Fitzgerald. Byrne looked certain to score - he was a mere six yards from goal and the cross had already cut the Rovers keeper out of the equation - however It wasn't to be and his shot came back off the post and landed in the ever so grateful hands of Rovers' keeper Karl Coleman.

Then with the game deep in stoppage time at the end of the second half, Byrne's finishing was again to let him down. Once again he timed his run well but when the ball found its way to him just six yards from goal he managed to knock it over a yard wide of the upright.

Despite these two embarrassing misses and the late equaliser Mahon remained upbeat - " Looking at it from the positive side he is in the right place and we are creating a couple of chances, not too many, but we are creating chances and that's always hopeful for the future"

Next up for UCD is a league cup game on Monday night against St Pats and then later in the week they travel to Cobh for a Friday night game at St Colemans.