'Last year was so interrupted by Covid, but this year I have been able to have a proper run at it' - Liam Kerrigan on his good form as UCD's playoff push continues

UCD forward Liam Kerrigan, along with his partner in crime, Colm Whelan, are proving to be one of the most feared duos in the League of Ireland thanks to their imperious form this season.

While Whelan takes most of the acclaim, Kerrigan continues to do what he does best, and that is creating chances for his lethal teammate.

But this is an unassuming, yet confident striking pair. Between them, they have 21 league goals, and over 10 assists. And there appears to be little sign of them wavering in their efforts this term.

Friday night saw UCD claim a totally dominant 6-0 win over Athlone Town, with Kerrigan and Whelan to the forefront for Andy Myler’s side who maintained their playoff pursuit.  

“We started well on the front foot and pressed them,” Kerrigan told extratime.com after the game. “We got at them straight away and Sam [Todd] got the first goal.

"It opened up from there and it went the same way in the second-half. We didn’t take our foot off the pedal.

“With that fella [Colm Whelan] all you have to do is give him the ball and he’ll do the rest!," he jokes about his striking partner Colm Whelan as their telepathic connection continues

“To be fair he makes the runs and I’ll try find him. It might not always come off, but he’ll make the runs and I’ll keep looking for him.”

Since UCD reverted to a back four from their previously familiar back three, the Students have conceded just one goal.

And the former Sligo Rovers youngster believes that has been the catalyst for a good run of recent form at the UCD Bowl.



“Since we’ve gone to the back four, we’ve conceded one goal,” he adds. “We’ve tightened up the defence and we’ve always scored goals.

“If we keep attacking like we do and not leak many goals we could pick up a good run of form.

The UCD Commerce Student joined the Belfield outfit midway through the 2019 season from the Bit O'Red.

But it has only been this year where he has taken flight as he bears the fruit of a full uninterrupted season at the UCD Bowl.

“It’s been a quick two years,” he explains. “When I came in, we were in the Premier Division and it was a tough year because we were losing a lot of games.

“Last year was so interrupted by Covid, but this year I have been able to have a proper run at it.



“I feel like we’ve made connections as this team has been together for two years with a few incomings and not many outgoings.”

But for now, however, the 21-year-old is hopeful that UCD can continue their promotion push alongside their upturn in form as they look to right the wrongs of last season’s playoff heartbreak.

“If we keep getting clean sheets Colm [Whelan] is going to score goals most places.

“If the back four keeps the clean sheets and defends like it has been in the last four games, hopefully we’ll get on fine.”

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