UCD 0 - 0 Waterford United

• Simon Carter
• Sat, May 16 2009


UCD and Waterford United played out an entertaining scoreless draw at Belfield on Friday night, and with the first series of games now out of the way, it is Martin Russell's side that still lead the way at the top of the table.

Russell made three changes to the side that defeated Athlone last Saturday. Robbie Creevy returned from injury to line up in midfield, Keith Ward replaced John Reilly on the right wing, and Gareth Matthews started at right back. With Graham Cummins suspended and youngster Paul Carey still nursing an ankle injury, Waterford were only able to name four substitutes. Striker David Grincell replaced Cummins, filling in on the left side of a five man midfield.

Ronan Finn and Kevin Waters were the creative forces in midfield, both making time for themselves whenever on the ball and looking to bring others into the game. Ciaran Kilduff was UCD's main goal threat, regularly picking up possession over the top or getting between the Waterford centre back pairing of Kenny Browne and Kevin Murray. The offside flag saved Waterford on a couple of such occasions early on.

Willie John Kiely had a tough job upfront on his own for the visitors, but to his credit his work rate was amazing all night. The former Aberdeen trainee hit two shots narrowly wide of Ger Barron’s goal in the opening forty five minutes.

Keith Ward continued where he left off last week in Lissywollen and had a bright first half, getting the better of Seamus Long on a couple of occasions, but once Long became aware of what he was faced with he dealt well with the wingers threat, and made a couple of timely interceptions on the edge of his own box

The first real opening of the second half came when Barron came a long way from his line to deal with a long free kick from Waterford's left. With a cluster of bodies in his way he only managed to punch it eight or ten yards and John Kearney was unlucky to see his attempted lob not come off.

UCD then created what was probably their best chance of the contest. Finn played a neat ball into the path of Creevy just inside the box, but Waterford keeper Mick Devine was on hand to pull off a fine save. UCD collected the rebound, but the Waterford defence regrouped and saw off the danger.

Waterford then went on to enjoy fifteen or twenty minutes where they were on top and looked the side most likely to break the deadlock. Waters tried his luck with a volley from all of thirty yards, but Barron wasn't concerned as he watched it fly high and wide of the target. Kearney then fired wide of Barron's left hand side post with a well struck left footed effort.

As the game entered the last twenty minutes it was the hosts UCD that seemed to have that extra bit of energy. Kilduff was causing most of the problems, but his strike partner David McMillan got in the act also and came close with a powerful shot towards Devine's near post. A series of corners really put the pressure on Stephen Henderson's side, but UCD continued to be frustrated as the ball never seemed to fall their way in the box.

UCD - Ger Barron, Gareth Matthews (Ciaran Nangle 73), Andrew Boyle, Evan McMillan, Brian Shortall, Keith Ward (Timmy Purcell 81), Robbie Creevy, Ronan Finn, Chris Mulhall, Ciaran Kilduff, David McMillan (Peter McMahon 74). Unused subs - Michael Leahy, Billy Brennan Waterford United - Mick Devine, Alan Carey, Kenny Browne, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, Joe Mulcahy (Declan Woodgate 74), Paul McCarthy (Gary Dunphy 76), John Kearney, Kevin Waters (Kieran Fitzgerald 84), David Grincell, Willie John Kiely. Unused sub -Kevin Burns Referee - P Sutton