UCD 0 - 0 Galway United

UCD and Galway United played for a share of the spoils in a game of little chances and little entertainment as the game finished in a drab scoreless draw. Both keepers were rarely tested throughout, where both sides couldn’t find the back of the net after some poor finishing.

UCD went very close in the opening five minutes after great wing play from Ciaran Kilduff down the left. He crossed for Greg Bolger to nod into the path of teammate Peter McMahon, but his effort on the edge went narrowly wide.

There were little or no clear cut chances for both sides in the opening twenty, as the Students looked dangerous on the counter attack and Galway looked threatening from set pieces. Derek O’Brien was booked for a dive in the box on 11 minutes after a great tackle from UCD defender Boyle. It didn’t look like a dive, but Referee Graham Kelly thought otherwise.

In a pretty poor first half, both sides could create only half chances. The pitch was very bobbly as the Students usual slick passing game was greatly effected by the pitch. Galway worked hard throughout the first half using the channels well and nearly had a breakthrough on 41 minutes when Karl Sheppard was put through by Anto Flood, but UCD defender Ciaran Nangle came across to shield the ball back to his keeper Billy Brennan.

Minutes later Sheppard should of grabbed the lead for the Tribesman after shooting wide from 14 yards after the chance was set up by the substitute Stephen O’Donnell. The second half started with a much higher tempo to the game than the uninspiring first half with the home side creating the majority of the chances. Stephen O’Donnell went close after he robbed Peter McMahon on the edge, but shot over, while minutes later Kilduff’s spectacular overhead was saved by the Galway keeper after Nangle’s high cross into the box from the left.

UCD continued on the offensive with the industrious Graham Rusk testing Galway keeper Barry Ryan on 55 minutes and then turning provider five minutes later crossing the ball dangerously into the six yard box only for Andrew Boyle to narrowly miss.

Galway could only create half chances as their defence soaked up the onslaught from the UCD attack. Manager Martin Russell made two changes with 20 minutes to go bringing on Keith Ward for Peter McMahon and Paul Corry for Robbie Creevy. Galway made a change of their own, with James Creaney entering the game for Derek O’Brien.

Neat interplay between Rusk and Ward down the left on 75 nearly created a glorious opportunity for the Students, but the bumpy pitch once again hindered the home side’s usual tidy passing game.

Despite being put under a lot of pressure, Galway continued to attack, and nearly took the lead on 82 minutes, but were denied by UCD stopper Billy Brennan when he pushed substitute James Creaney’s volley wide of the post. Both teams pushed men forward in the last few minutes in search of the winner, but both defences held out for the scoreless draw .

UCD will be very disappointed with tonight’s result after creating numerous chances and having most of the possession in the game. While the Tribesmen can be very happy with the effort they showed, and take alot of confidence from their hard working performance.

UCD: Brennan; Shorthall; Boyle; E.McMillan; Nangle, McMahon (Ward 69); Bolger; Creevy (Corry 69); D.McMillan; Rusk; Kilduff
Subs not used: Harding; Wilson; Barron.

Galway United: Ryan: Conneely; McKenzie; Sinnott; Meynell; Ryan (King 80); Foley; Curran (O’Donnell 29); O’Brien (Creaney 70); Flood; Sheppard.
Subs not used: McBrien; Keane.

Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork)
Attendance: 320
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Jamie McKenzie