First Division Round-up: Series 27
Credit:
UCD, Shelbourne, Sporting Fingal and Waterford United each won over the weekend as the interesting pursuit of promotion hots up.
1st UCD:
Goals from David McMillan (2), Ciaran Kilduff (2) and Ronan Finn were enough to turn over Kildare County at Belfield on Friday night, keeping UCD above Shelbourne on goal difference.
Things are looking very good for Martin Russell’s side of late, with three wins on the bounce – scoring thirteen and conceding none – since their disappointing loss to Sporting a few weeks back.
Massive game at Tolka on Friday. Should UCD lose, they will trail Shels by three, having played one more. Should they win, the league will be theirs to lose.
2nd Shelbourne:
Shelbourne were not at their best away to Mervue. Having to pull level on two occasions, first through Peter Hynes and then the ever reliable David McAllister, it took two own goals by the Galway side to give Dermot Keely’s side the win. Add to that the two red cards for the home team and you can see just how simple a task this fixture should have been.
“We play well against the top teams but seem to struggle against teams we should be beating,” said Keely. Seems quite true for the season as a whole, however, with this Friday’s crunch game against UCD at Tolka Park, there will be few complaints from the stands if that trend continues.
3rd Sporting Fingal:
Goals from Shaun Williams and extratime.ie columnist Conan Byrne, followed by a Gary O’Neill brace saw off Finn Harps as Liam Buckley’s outfit continue their chase of the front two in the division.
Three points off the top is not impossible to close up, and could well be gone within two weeks. Should Fingal beat Monaghan this weekend, knowing at least one of the leaders are dropping points, then next week’s home tie to Shelbourne grows ever more in significance.
4th Waterford United:
Paul Walsh’s early winner against Longford was imperative for Stephen Henderson’s side. Waterford are currently five points off the top, however they have a game in hand over two of their rivals.
Never a good trip, to Ballybofey, but United’s task is simple – Win Every Game. Waterford have thrashed Harps twice already this season and a win on Saturday, given the top two going head to head, could close up the top four nice and tightly.
5th Wexford Youths:
The Youths sit just four points ahead of sixth place after last weekend’s fixtures. After the promising start to the season, it would be a failure should they drop below the fifth spot which they have made their own this season. The threat of challenging the top four may have failed to materialise, however, they are still the best of the rest.
Hosting Limerick this weekend, a return to winning ways would be a surprise. Limerick tend to beat the Youths.
6th Monaghan United:
Monaghan came from behind to earn a 3-3 draw in Limerick last Friday. Darragh Hanaphy pulled one back when 2-0 down, before Limerick stretched their lead again. However, a Karl Bermingham pen and a late Stephen McCrossan equaliser earned them the point. With Limerick sitting just below them in the table, this result will go down well.
Hosting Sporting next.
7th Limerick FC:
Surely disappointed to let such a lead slip, at home, to the team they are chasing. Limerick looked comfortable on Friday, at both 2-0 and 3-1 up. Stephen O’Flynn and John Tierney got Pat Scully’s side off to the ideal start, however, despite a third goal from Daryl Kavanagh, Limerick managed to drop two points.
With a trip to Wexford next on the fixture list, Limerick will once again try to close up on the two spots above them.
8th Finn Harps:
Comfortably cast aside by Sporting Fingal, Christy Conaghy’s first half strike was all Harps could offer. Indeed the scoreline, 4-1, could even have been greater as the Dublin side dominated.
Hosting Waterford United on Friday.
9th Athlone Town:
Noel McGee’s two goals saw Athlone put some breathing space between themselves and Longford in tenth. With a trip to Longford this Saturday, a win would see Brendan Place’s men cement their ninth place.
10th Longford Town:
Paul Walsh’s solitary strike saw off Longford on Tuesday night. Without a win in their last seven games in all competitions, the visit of Athlone this weekend is a tough, but ideal way to get back to winning ways. Longford have already enjoyed victory in Athlone, however, two losses to the same side already this season throws form out the window.
11th Mervue United:
“Shelbourne eventually overcame a Mervue Utd side who basically shot themselves in the foot in this First Division game at Terryland Park,” according to our very own Terry Flaherty. Mervue led twice through Paul Danaher and Mike Tierney. However, dismissals for both Mark Ludden and Alex Lee, coupled with own goals from Mike Harty and Danaher, made a difficult job an almost impossible one.
Away at Station Road this weekend in a bottom of the table clash.
12th Kildare County:
Destroyed by a rampant UCD side. Hosting Mervue this weekend, which could actually see Kildare close to within four points of tenth place. Obviously that is only if they win, but they have beaten the Galway side already this season…
1st UCD:
Goals from David McMillan (2), Ciaran Kilduff (2) and Ronan Finn were enough to turn over Kildare County at Belfield on Friday night, keeping UCD above Shelbourne on goal difference.
Things are looking very good for Martin Russell’s side of late, with three wins on the bounce – scoring thirteen and conceding none – since their disappointing loss to Sporting a few weeks back.
Massive game at Tolka on Friday. Should UCD lose, they will trail Shels by three, having played one more. Should they win, the league will be theirs to lose.
2nd Shelbourne:
Shelbourne were not at their best away to Mervue. Having to pull level on two occasions, first through Peter Hynes and then the ever reliable David McAllister, it took two own goals by the Galway side to give Dermot Keely’s side the win. Add to that the two red cards for the home team and you can see just how simple a task this fixture should have been.
“We play well against the top teams but seem to struggle against teams we should be beating,” said Keely. Seems quite true for the season as a whole, however, with this Friday’s crunch game against UCD at Tolka Park, there will be few complaints from the stands if that trend continues.
3rd Sporting Fingal:
Goals from Shaun Williams and extratime.ie columnist Conan Byrne, followed by a Gary O’Neill brace saw off Finn Harps as Liam Buckley’s outfit continue their chase of the front two in the division.
Three points off the top is not impossible to close up, and could well be gone within two weeks. Should Fingal beat Monaghan this weekend, knowing at least one of the leaders are dropping points, then next week’s home tie to Shelbourne grows ever more in significance.
4th Waterford United:
Paul Walsh’s early winner against Longford was imperative for Stephen Henderson’s side. Waterford are currently five points off the top, however they have a game in hand over two of their rivals.
Never a good trip, to Ballybofey, but United’s task is simple – Win Every Game. Waterford have thrashed Harps twice already this season and a win on Saturday, given the top two going head to head, could close up the top four nice and tightly.
5th Wexford Youths:
The Youths sit just four points ahead of sixth place after last weekend’s fixtures. After the promising start to the season, it would be a failure should they drop below the fifth spot which they have made their own this season. The threat of challenging the top four may have failed to materialise, however, they are still the best of the rest.
Hosting Limerick this weekend, a return to winning ways would be a surprise. Limerick tend to beat the Youths.
6th Monaghan United:
Monaghan came from behind to earn a 3-3 draw in Limerick last Friday. Darragh Hanaphy pulled one back when 2-0 down, before Limerick stretched their lead again. However, a Karl Bermingham pen and a late Stephen McCrossan equaliser earned them the point. With Limerick sitting just below them in the table, this result will go down well.
Hosting Sporting next.
7th Limerick FC:
Surely disappointed to let such a lead slip, at home, to the team they are chasing. Limerick looked comfortable on Friday, at both 2-0 and 3-1 up. Stephen O’Flynn and John Tierney got Pat Scully’s side off to the ideal start, however, despite a third goal from Daryl Kavanagh, Limerick managed to drop two points.
With a trip to Wexford next on the fixture list, Limerick will once again try to close up on the two spots above them.
8th Finn Harps:
Comfortably cast aside by Sporting Fingal, Christy Conaghy’s first half strike was all Harps could offer. Indeed the scoreline, 4-1, could even have been greater as the Dublin side dominated.
Hosting Waterford United on Friday.
9th Athlone Town:
Noel McGee’s two goals saw Athlone put some breathing space between themselves and Longford in tenth. With a trip to Longford this Saturday, a win would see Brendan Place’s men cement their ninth place.
10th Longford Town:
Paul Walsh’s solitary strike saw off Longford on Tuesday night. Without a win in their last seven games in all competitions, the visit of Athlone this weekend is a tough, but ideal way to get back to winning ways. Longford have already enjoyed victory in Athlone, however, two losses to the same side already this season throws form out the window.
11th Mervue United:
“Shelbourne eventually overcame a Mervue Utd side who basically shot themselves in the foot in this First Division game at Terryland Park,” according to our very own Terry Flaherty. Mervue led twice through Paul Danaher and Mike Tierney. However, dismissals for both Mark Ludden and Alex Lee, coupled with own goals from Mike Harty and Danaher, made a difficult job an almost impossible one.
Away at Station Road this weekend in a bottom of the table clash.
12th Kildare County:
Destroyed by a rampant UCD side. Hosting Mervue this weekend, which could actually see Kildare close to within four points of tenth place. Obviously that is only if they win, but they have beaten the Galway side already this season…
About Gordon Hunt
Gordon Hunt is one of extratime's Dublin based reporters. Having worked with the site since it's inception, Gordon's name is carved into the foundations of extratime's tower block. View Full Profile