Sport
Interview Irish Soccer Legend Ray Houghtton Page 22
Issue 10 | Volume 22 | 2nd April 2009
UCD stay top and continue perfect start
! Picture by Ed Scannell
! Colman Hanley UCD continued their 100% record in the League of Ireland First Division with a 2-1 win in Ballybofey against Finn Harps. The remarkable run of results under new manager Martin Russell continues to show no sign of letting up as Ciarán Kilduff and Dave McMillan scored to secure the 3 points. The run began with the victory of the Collingwood Cup back in February. The league began with a 2-1 win against Kildare County at the Bowl, then a 1-0 win away to Sporting Fingal, followed
UCD
Finn Harps
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Ballybofey by a 3-0 home win versus Monaghan United. But last Friday’s win in Donegal has shown that Russell’s side have the ability to win outside of Dublin, an essential quality for a team challenging for promotion.
Russell made 2 changes to his team. Billy Brennan made his first appearance of the season in place of Ger Barron, while Evan McMillan replaced Michael Leahy at centre-back. Within 2 minutes of the start, UCD took the lead. Chris Mulhall got into an advanced position and his shot was saved by Harps keeper Gavin Cullen. However the ball was parried to McMillan and he reacted quickest to tap in the rebound. Harps were level within 10 minutes. Picking the ball up from around 35 yards out,Michael Funston’s spectacular effort
flew over Billy Brennan and into the net. The wet and windy conditions were a nuisance for the keepers on the night, and though Brennan was slightly off his line, Funston’s effort in truth was a fluke as it looped over the UCD keeper. But UCD showed character as they retook the lead within 60 seconds. Kilduff broke away and won a penalty after some poor Harps defending and a clumsy tackle in the penalty area. ‘Killer’ picked himself up off the ground to score the penalty and notch his 5th goal of the season. Robbie Creevy went close with a 2nd
half shot that landed on the roof of the net. But it was Harps’ Conor Gethins who had the final chance of the game, his late effort just evaded Brennan’s goal. In the end though, UCD saw out the final minutes to claim the points and stay top of the league with Shelbourne on 12 points. UCD: Brennan; Harding, E McMillan, Boyle, Shortall (Leahy 77); Mulhall, Creevy,Finn(Bolger83),Reilly(McMahon 74); D McMillan, Kilduff.