Wednesday, for sale 18th January
College Park
Trinity College – 0
UCD – 1
Patrick Fleming
When it comes to Colours matches, determination often wins the day and this was on full show in College Park on Wednesday afternoon as UCD AFC took the Fresher’s Colours Trophy back to Belfield. In a tight game with neither side willing to give the other a chance, a dogged defensive performance was enough to see off a strong Trinity side as a solitary Ross King goal separated the sides come the final whistle.
UCD began the game well and looked to attack Trinity down the flanks. Rory Giles and Niall Barrett seemed to have the beating of their opposite numbers in the Trinity defence early on and sent a number of threatening balls into the box. UCD, however, failed to capitalise on these opportunities.
After ten minutes though, one of these threatening balls finally managed to break the home side’s resistance. Ross King found himself in space in the box as he collected a cross. Quick feet took him away from his defender before he slid the ball under the keeper to give the Belfield side a deserved lead.
Trinity then took a hold of proceedings and put their visitors under severe pressure, creating several chances in search of the all important equaliser. Bill Phelan, in the UCD goal, needed to be on his toes to preserve his side’s slender lead. The imposing net minder pulled off one impressive save as it looked as though Trinity had dragged themselves back into the game.
The second half started as the first half had ended with Trinity dominating proceedings. But, although the home side pressed, they were finding it difficult to break through UCD’s defensive line. Caolan Cullen, Patrick Brett and Ryan McLaughlin each somehow managed to get their heads on the end of every threatening ball.
As the game entered its final moments the defence invited Trinity to try again and again but the back four kept Phelan’s goal safe but time finally ran out on Trinity’s search for the equaliser as the referee blew the final whistle. In the end, King’s goal and UCD’s brave defensive effort proved enough for them to secure the first intervarsity trophy of the New Year.
UCD AFC: Phelan, Brett, Naughton, Cullen, McLaughlin, O’Neill (Boland), Giles (Byrne), Murray, King (Miller), Suen, Barrett (Vermeulen)
