Dundalk -v- UCD
Credit:
UCD are the visitors to Oriel Park this Friday evening as they look to overcome a tough Dundalk side who are coming off the back of a very creditable draw in Richmond Park last weekend. The Students will be all out to win this one following a defeat to Bray Wanderers in their last league encounter. (Kickoff 7.45 pm)
The Lillywhites sit ten points behind the leaders Sligo Rovers at the top of the table, and will need to start picking up more points if they are to keep up with the main title contenders. A two-all draw with St. Pats in Inchicore is never a bad result but with Pats coming off the back of a tough test against IBV in the Europa League qualifiers only a few days before, the result may not seem quite as glamorous.
A lot of the pressure will fall on the shoulders of midfielder Keith Ward who has been in fine form so far this season. Ward has been putting in some magical performances recently and Dundalk will look to him once more to shrug off the challenge of the Students on Friday evening.
Ward is under no illusions however, and admits that he is only doing what’s expected of him. “It’s about time. I should be scoring goals,” Wardy told dundalkfc.com. “It’s probably something that I don’t do enough, but I’ve got three goals in four games, so I’m delighted with that, and hopefully they keep coming. As a midfielder, I should probably be aiming for about eight or ten goals throughout the season. Hopefully, I can get to at least six or seven by the end of the season. But I’m happy enough that I’m scoring. It helps out the strikers as well.”
Dundalk will have to sort out their home form however, as they have been defeated three times in their last four home encounters. Unbeaten until mid-June at Oriel, the turning point arrived when Drogheda defeated their rivals by two goals to one. Since then, confidence hasn’t been as easy to find when Dundalk line out to play at home.
UCD have been rather hit and miss this season, and look to have very little to play for, even at this early stage. They appear to be in a two team competition now with Drogheda United as they sit eleven points clear of basement side Galway, but are also fifteen points off Friday night’s opponents.
Martin Russell sees this season as one for developing players, which is a logical statement given their league position. "As soon as you’re finished one game you are always looking forward to the next, we are looking at how players are growing. For example Ger Barron has played ever so well with it being his first season being the no.1. Dave O'Connor, who didn’t start the season, has come in and grown and grown. Other players like Graham Rusk have come in and grabbed a few goals, Paul Corry has had some tremendous games and Robbie Creevy will be looking to have some goods games coming back from injury."
In their previous encounters this season, Dundalk have taken all six points on offer; winning 3-1 in this fixture back in April and winning 2-0 at the Belfield Bowl back in May. The Dundalk faithful will be hoping for the trend to continue.
Dundalk:
?Injured: Eoghan Osbourne, Stephen McDonnell, Jason Byrne, Colin Hawkins.
?Doubtful: None.
?Suspended: Mark Quigley.
??UCD
?Injured: None.
?Doubtful: None.
?Suspended: Graham Rusk, Darren Meenan.
??Referee: Alan Kelly.
?Paddy Power Odds: Dundalk 1/3, Draw 7/2, UCD 5/1.
?Extratime prediction: Injuries and suspensions to reduce the quality of the game greatly. A 1-1 draw.?
The Lillywhites sit ten points behind the leaders Sligo Rovers at the top of the table, and will need to start picking up more points if they are to keep up with the main title contenders. A two-all draw with St. Pats in Inchicore is never a bad result but with Pats coming off the back of a tough test against IBV in the Europa League qualifiers only a few days before, the result may not seem quite as glamorous.
A lot of the pressure will fall on the shoulders of midfielder Keith Ward who has been in fine form so far this season. Ward has been putting in some magical performances recently and Dundalk will look to him once more to shrug off the challenge of the Students on Friday evening.
Ward is under no illusions however, and admits that he is only doing what’s expected of him. “It’s about time. I should be scoring goals,” Wardy told dundalkfc.com. “It’s probably something that I don’t do enough, but I’ve got three goals in four games, so I’m delighted with that, and hopefully they keep coming. As a midfielder, I should probably be aiming for about eight or ten goals throughout the season. Hopefully, I can get to at least six or seven by the end of the season. But I’m happy enough that I’m scoring. It helps out the strikers as well.”
Dundalk will have to sort out their home form however, as they have been defeated three times in their last four home encounters. Unbeaten until mid-June at Oriel, the turning point arrived when Drogheda defeated their rivals by two goals to one. Since then, confidence hasn’t been as easy to find when Dundalk line out to play at home.
UCD have been rather hit and miss this season, and look to have very little to play for, even at this early stage. They appear to be in a two team competition now with Drogheda United as they sit eleven points clear of basement side Galway, but are also fifteen points off Friday night’s opponents.
Martin Russell sees this season as one for developing players, which is a logical statement given their league position. "As soon as you’re finished one game you are always looking forward to the next, we are looking at how players are growing. For example Ger Barron has played ever so well with it being his first season being the no.1. Dave O'Connor, who didn’t start the season, has come in and grown and grown. Other players like Graham Rusk have come in and grabbed a few goals, Paul Corry has had some tremendous games and Robbie Creevy will be looking to have some goods games coming back from injury."
In their previous encounters this season, Dundalk have taken all six points on offer; winning 3-1 in this fixture back in April and winning 2-0 at the Belfield Bowl back in May. The Dundalk faithful will be hoping for the trend to continue.
Dundalk:
?Injured: Eoghan Osbourne, Stephen McDonnell, Jason Byrne, Colin Hawkins.
?Doubtful: None.
?Suspended: Mark Quigley.
??UCD
?Injured: None.
?Doubtful: None.
?Suspended: Graham Rusk, Darren Meenan.
??Referee: Alan Kelly.
?Paddy Power Odds: Dundalk 1/3, Draw 7/2, UCD 5/1.
?Extratime prediction: Injuries and suspensions to reduce the quality of the game greatly. A 1-1 draw.?
About Andrew Cunneen
Andrew joined Extratime for the 2010 season and covers all the on-goings down in Limerick. Having first experienced the League of Ireland in 2002, Andrew became hooked, even at such an early age. He is … View Full Profile