League Preview: Drogheda United -v- UCD

• Caoimhin Reilly
• Fri, Jun 24 2016



The arch-challengers to runaway First Division leaders Limerick, Drogheda United and UCD clash in Friday night’s league encounter at United Park. Kick-off 7:45pm.
 
DROGHEDA UNITED
Second place Drogheda have the distinction of being the only league team to take points from the ‘Super Blues’ this term, and even more impressively, they managed to take a point away from the Market’s Field having taken an 89th minute lead through Aaron Ashe, before Limerick registered their second strike late on to deny the Boynesiders victory in the last round of First Division fixtures before the mid-season break.
 
The Drogs have put together a mid-season revival having begun the season very inconsistently. Those performances led to attendances and interest in the team fluctuating dramatically. However, a push for promotion could only be good for gate receipts in South County Louth.
 
The Claret and Blues are unbeaten in league affairs since losing to Limerick on April 8th. Anything but defeat against UCD would extend their unbeaten run to eight games, including four wins.
 
However, all has not been well during that run and following their stalemate with Cabinteely FC four weeks ago in Stradbrook, manager Pete Mahon was left seething with four players having failed to appear for the match in time.
 
Mahon’s anger was palpable as he insisted to LMFM radio that he would “deal with the players” and that “it won’t happen again.”
 
Victory here would extend the Drogheda buffer in second place to five points over Friday night’s opponents and it would also go a long way to banishing the discontent that was apparent following that match with Cabo.
 
UCD
Collie O’Neill’s UCD have quietly went about their promotion push, subtly building their way into contention having gained ten points from their last four First Division encounters.
 
UCD also managed to gain the scalp of Bray Wanderers in the FAI Cup at the Bowl recently with ‘skipper Gary O’Neill to the fore. Their promotion credentials were greatly strengthened as a consequence of that victory over Harry Kenny’s side and another win tomorrow night would propel them into second place in the league.
 
Going forward is where UCD appear to be at their best. O’Neill, in collusion with hotshot Ryan Swan and former Shamrock Rovers winger Kieran Marty Waters, appear to have the offensive cohesion to push the Students towards Premier Division status.
 
The last meeting of the sides came in April when they drew 2-2 in Dublin. It was Swan and O’Neill who scored for UCD on that occasion with Drogheda having twice taken the lead during the four-goal first-half.
 
Should UCD bring their ‘A’ game up the M1 tomorrow night, their technical superiority in the central areas of the pitch should cause the Drogs problems. However, as highlighted before, the Students’ have a defence which is far from impermeable so one would assume that they will need to score plenty tomorrow night to win the game.
 
Referee: N/A.
 
 
MATCH FACTS
The Drogs and UCD both currently reside in the First Division play-off places, with two points separating the teams as it stands.
 
Both UCD and Drogheda have been relegated from the Premier Division over the past two seasons.
 
 
MATCH BETTING
Drogheda United evens; Draw 23/10; UCD 23/10.
 
 
MATCH PREDICTION
Drogheda United 2-2 UCD.
 
 
Drogheda United
Injured: Unknown.
Doubtful: Unknown.
Suspended: Sean Brennan.
 
UCD
Injured: Unknown.
Doubtful: Unknown.
Suspended: None.