Re-start Club Preview: UCD

Club: UCD

Manager: Andy Myler

Highest league goalscorer: Yoyo Mahdy, Liam Kerrigan, Colm Whelan (1).

Current position: 4^th.

How we thought they would do for the 2020 season

At the start of the season, the extratime.com team predicted a sixth placed league finish for UCD.

However, our writers noted that the Students were well suited to a season where they could compete at the top end of the table given their First Division pedigree.

How they did in the opening part of the season

It was a mixed start to the season for Andy Myler’s UCD, with a win, draw and a loss all coming in the Students opening three games of the year.

The Belfield side opened their season with a one-all draw away to Brian O’Sullivan’s Wexford FC- with Colm Whelan’s opener being cancelled out by Conor English’s late strike.

In their second league outing of the season, UCD earned a late, late win over Cobh Ramblers thanks to a close-range Yoyo Mahdy winner.

However, the Students were easily defeated 5-1 in their most recent league outing by Drogheda United on a sobering night for Myler’s young guns.

Moment of the season so far

In a season of few highlights – the Students last minute winner over Cobh Ramblers must be considered as their moment of the season thus far.

After weathering a storm from the Co. Cork side – the Students rallied late on and netted through Mahdy who found the winner in the 87^th minute.

The forward tapped home after a Paul Doyle free-kick was hooked back into play where he was on hand to secure UCD’s first home league win since July 2019.

Stand out player so far this season

Similarly to last season, Paul Doyle is really beginning to prove his worth for the Students – recently being appointed as club captain.

Doyle joined the club ahead of the 2018 season and has benefitted from having the likes of Greg Sloggett and Gary O’Neill to play with at the club previously.

The former Sligo Rovers underage star has seen his star rise in Belfield over the past year and he is likely to push on and improve in the coming weeks and months ahead.

The Students captain will be hoping to excel in his role as a leader within the UCD dressing room, and should he do so – he could be another man who goes on and makes a name for himself in the League of Ireland following his stint in Belfield. 

Transfers in/out prior to the restart

In: N/A.

Out: N/A.

What they need to do in the restart

For UCD, there seems to be plenty for them to do in regard to their potential First Division promotion ambitions.

As the defeat in Drogheda highlighted, Myler’s inexperienced side have much to improve on defensively should they look to compete at the top end of the table.  

However, saying that, the Students do have the calibre of player which could easily light up not only the First Division but the Premier.

Jack Keaney, Liam Kerrigan, Paul Doyle and Yoyo Mahdy are well rounded players who should be able to lean on their past experiences in the top-flight.

Hope is not all lost for UCD – and why should it be? They have the quality, and they also have experienced players dotted around the park – they just need to prove themselves again, something that they are more than capable of doing.

Where we see them finishing

6^th.

Who will they face in the FAI Cup?

Received a bye into the second round.

First post-lockdown league fixture

Longford Town (Home).