Sport

UCD lack a finish

UCD and Finn Harps did themselves few favours with this scoreless draw at Belfield yesterday

By PAUL BUTTNER
Mon Jan 26 1998 - 00:00

UCD and Finn Harps did themselves few favours with this scoreless draw at Belfield yesterday. Finn Harps' ambitions of pressing for a European place now seem tenuous, while UCD must be resigned to a play-off to secure their Premier Division place for next season.

It was particularly frustrating for UCD as they strove to win their first match in the league since November 16th. They created the better chances but the fact that they failed to force a single save from Jody Byrne during the whole 90 minutes summed up their lack of a cutting edge in front of goal.

Each side would have due claim to being disappointed with themselves at not having been in front at the interval. But UCD, who admirably took the game to Harps, would have been especially displeased as they went in search of a win to close the 10-point gap above them.

James Mulligan had two early chances for Harps, shooting wide across goal on three minutes while Seamus Kelly in the UCD goal was equal to a crisp volley on 14 minutes.

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In between, UCD should have been ahead after a sweeping move out of defence; John Martin and Ciaran Kavangh combining to set up Michael O'Byrne who shot well over the top from a good position.

Despite UCD's premium on possession, it was Kelly who was the busier of the goalkeepers, tipping over a Davy Dowling header, while saving well with his feet from Paddy McGranaghan.

UCD continued to create the clearer chances but still failed to trouble Byrne in the Harps goal with Damien Bolger and, in particular, O'Byrne, once more, wasting opportunities before the break.

The second-half produced much less by way of scoring opportunities, but once more it was UCD creating and missing what there was of them.

Robert Griffin stands indicted for the worst of them, twice shooting well wide within the opening ten minutes.

UCD: Kelly, Bolger, Lynch, Palmer, Fitzgerald, Martin, Kavanagh, Griffin, O'Donnell, O'Byrne, Sherlock. Sub: Kilmurray for O'Donnell (77 mins.).

Finn Harps: Byrne, Dowling, Boyle, Bradley, Vaudequin, McGranaghan, McGettigan, O'Brien, Minnock, Mulligan, Callaghan. Sub: Cullen for Callaghan (79 mins).

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).

Longford Town beat Mongahan United 1-0 at Gortakeegan yesterday in the Shield Northern Section. Damien Dunleavy got the only goal of a generally poor game in the 58th minute when he cleverly lobbed the ball over the Monaghan goalkeeper and into the net.