UCD to benefit from Setanta Cup spot
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As news broke of the demise of one of Dublin’s leading clubs, Sporting Fingal, another Dublin club rejoiced as UCD AFC have become the immediate benefactors by gaining entry into the lucrative Setanta Sports Cup.
The Students, who have been back in pre-season training for four weeks, will face Lisburn Distillery on Monday, February 14th, with the Setanta Sports Cup organising committee stating that the game is to take place at 7:45pm in the UCD Bowl. Conditions are not expected to be ideal for either side though, as the surface at ‘The Bowl’ is still suffering the effects of recent rugby matches.
The news comes as a huge boost to UCD following the mass exodus of first team players that manager Martin Russell has had to deal with during the close season. The list includes last year's Club Captain Evan McMillan, Dave McMillan and Brian Shorthall (All to St. Patrick’s Athletic), Ciarán Kilduff (Shamrock Rovers), Chris Mulhall and Andy Boyle (Shelbourne), Dwayne Wilson (Waterford United), and Keith Ward (Dundalk).
However with first team players Ciarán Nangle, Robbie Creevy, Paul O’Conor, Mick Leahy, and the talented Paul Corry retained, plus the addition of Darren Meenan (Drogheda United) and Dean Marshall (Athlone Town), UCD will still provide stern opposition to Lisburn.
In a bizarre twist of events, the transfer of Greg Bolger to Sporting Fingal from UCD leaves the player, linked with Premier League side Blackpool before Christmas, without a club. Similarly, UCD’s number one goalkeeper from last season, Billy Brennan, is set to line out against the Students having signed for Distillery recently. Elsewhere, doubts still surround UCD’s opening league game of the season, a game scheduled to be away to Fingal at Dalymount Park.
However the breaking news today has come as a welcome boost to the club, and despite the short notice it provides Russell to prepare, it is a challenge his young side will relish. Following pre-season wins over Monaghan United and Longford Town, the Students will hope to defy the odds against Lisburn, starting on Monday night.
The Students, who have been back in pre-season training for four weeks, will face Lisburn Distillery on Monday, February 14th, with the Setanta Sports Cup organising committee stating that the game is to take place at 7:45pm in the UCD Bowl. Conditions are not expected to be ideal for either side though, as the surface at ‘The Bowl’ is still suffering the effects of recent rugby matches.
The news comes as a huge boost to UCD following the mass exodus of first team players that manager Martin Russell has had to deal with during the close season. The list includes last year's Club Captain Evan McMillan, Dave McMillan and Brian Shorthall (All to St. Patrick’s Athletic), Ciarán Kilduff (Shamrock Rovers), Chris Mulhall and Andy Boyle (Shelbourne), Dwayne Wilson (Waterford United), and Keith Ward (Dundalk).
However with first team players Ciarán Nangle, Robbie Creevy, Paul O’Conor, Mick Leahy, and the talented Paul Corry retained, plus the addition of Darren Meenan (Drogheda United) and Dean Marshall (Athlone Town), UCD will still provide stern opposition to Lisburn.
In a bizarre twist of events, the transfer of Greg Bolger to Sporting Fingal from UCD leaves the player, linked with Premier League side Blackpool before Christmas, without a club. Similarly, UCD’s number one goalkeeper from last season, Billy Brennan, is set to line out against the Students having signed for Distillery recently. Elsewhere, doubts still surround UCD’s opening league game of the season, a game scheduled to be away to Fingal at Dalymount Park.
However the breaking news today has come as a welcome boost to the club, and despite the short notice it provides Russell to prepare, it is a challenge his young side will relish. Following pre-season wins over Monaghan United and Longford Town, the Students will hope to defy the odds against Lisburn, starting on Monday night.
