0 v 0 
Finn HarpsVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 February 2022 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2022 |
Match Report
Stalemate at the UCD Bowl
On a windy evening at the UCD Bowl, a game of few chances and little quality ended in a 0-0 draw between UCD and Finn Harps.
Harps edged the first-half, with chances for Yoyo Mahdy and Barry Mcnamee testing Lorcan Healy. However, neither manager would have been overly pleased with the display in the opening 45.
There was controversy in the second-half as referee David Dunne opted to book Colm Whelan, instead of awarding the students a penalty.
In spite of this, Harps were mostly on top, with new man Filip Mihaljevic missing two fantastic opportunities to score.
The first half lacked any real quality, as the sides battled with the conditions as well as each other.
Mahdy had the first attempt on goal after 20 minutes. A knock-down from new Harps signing Filip Mihaljevic let Mahdy turn on the spot and unleash an effort. Healy in the Students’ net got down well to his left to palm the ball clear.
With both teams struggling to play a single incisive pass, a mistake from UCD debutant John Ryan provided the next big chance. McNamee pounced on a poor touch, and found himself through on goal. The midfielder’s left-footed shot left a lot to be desired, and Healy was once again able to make a save.
The second period provided two positive moments from a Students point of view. Evan Caffrey nearly opened the scoring after a dinked Sean Brennan pass found his chest. The number nine controlled the ball and lobbed Mark Anthony McGinley, only to see the ball plink off the top of the crossbar.
The second positive moment turned out to be controversial. Colm Whelan drove into the box and went down under a challenge. Referee Dunne instantly made up his mind to book Whelan, with UCD manager Andy Myler giving the official an earful soon after.
Mihaljevic had two more chances for Harps before time expired, but it seemed destined to end as a draw.
A more solid performance from UCD compared to last time out, but nothing to get excited about. For Ollie Horgan and the visitors, there’s a few plus points, but a lot to work on to avoid a relegation scrap this term.
Timeline
| 6. Jack Keaney | 4' | |
| 45' | 5. Ethan Boyle | |
| 47' | 3. Regan Donelon | |
| 6. Sean Brennan | 54' | |
| Dylan Duffy Mark Dignam | 57' | |
| 65' | Bastien Hery Ryan Rainey | |
| 11. Colm Whelan | 72' | |
| 78' | Filip Mihaljevic Eric McWoods | |
| 81' | Regan Donelon Conor Tourish | |
| 90' | 6. Ryan Connolly |
Past Meetings
0 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v UCD AFC |
1 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Finn Harps FC |
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v UCD AFC |
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Finn Harps FC |
Officials
| Assistants |
|---|
| Michelle O’Neill |
Ground
| UCD Bowl |
|---|
| UCD Bowl, Greenfield Park, Greenfield, Roebuck, Clonskeagh-Belfield ED, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, County Dublin, Leinster, D04 XT65, Ireland |
Jon Parkin
A master's journalism student at Birmingham City University. Jon Parkin has done interviews with numerous people from across the English football pyramid. He has also written for website My Old Man Said for over a year and a half.
Full Time: UCD 0-0 Finn Harps
Keaney hits the resulting free-kick on target. McGinley gets a firm hand onto the ball to tip wide.
Ryan Connolly takes a yellow card for disrupting a UCD counter attack.
Three added minutes.
McWoods darts into the area and fires a low cross into the six-yard box, a UCD defender is there to clear.
UCD look happy to take the point here. Harps are dominating the ball and pressing for a winner.
Colm Whelan goes down in the box again. However, UCD get a free-kick as the first contact was outside the box.
Conor Tourish is on for Harps.
Regan Donelon is off for Harps due to injury.
Filip Mihaljevic is off for Harps.
Eric McWoods is on for Harps.
Again Mihaljovic should score! A Boyle long throw is flicked on by Mahdy. Mihaljevic was falling backwards as he took the ball on the volley. It fizzes past the near post. Very close.
Colm Whelan goes down in the box after a challenge. Shouts for a penalty, but the referee instead opts to get out his yellow card. Contraversial, it looked like a foul.
A floaty Mahdy header causes an issue for Lorcan Healy as Sam Todd goes for the same ball. It bobbles free, but Healy pounces upon it.
Ryan Rainey seizes on a loose ball after a corner. His powerful effort is well blocked and goes back out for a corner.
Bastien Hery is off for Harps.
Ryan Rainey is on for Harps.
Dylan Duffy is off for UCD.
Mark Dignam is on for UCD.
What a chance for Evan Caffrey! Brennan plays in the number nine, who chests the ball down and dinks the Harps 'keeper. The ball clips the bar and goes over.
Connolly whips a free-kick into the danger area. The awkward curl and bounce takes it over the awaiting attackers but towards the UCD net. Healy dives to his right to tip the ball wide.
Sean Brennan picks up a yellow card after pulling back Mahdy.
Mihaljevic should score! Donelon puts a wonderful cross towards the back post. Mihaljevic rises highest to head towards the right side of the goal. Healy makes a good low save with his legs.
Barry McNamee has plenty of time and space to shoot on the left side of the box, after a Mahdy cross. His shot is well saved by Healy.
Regan Donelon gets a yellow card for pulling back Colm Whelan.
And it's back underway at the UCD Bowl. Mihaljevic kicks off.
The players are back out for the second-half.
Half-time: UCD 0-0 Finn Harps
Ethan Boyle picks up a yellow for bringing down Kerrigan on the break.
Two minutes added time.
Harps are just starting to get their act together. Link-up play between Mihaljevic, Mahdy and Mcnamee results in the visitors winning a corner.
After an N'Zeyi flick-on, Mahdy plays in Mcnamee in behind on the left. His cross is swept up by Lorcan Healy, just before Mihaljevic can reach it.
John Ryan gives away the ball cheaply in his own half. Barry McNamee races away with it, but his shot on goal lacks power.
Dave Webster cuts out a UCD attack with a strong tackle on Colm Whelan, that's seen as a foul by the referee. He then gets into a war of words with Keaney, the Students' number six needs to be careful.
There's been a lot of inaccurate long-balls, scrapping in the middle of the park and a general lack of incisive play. Neither manager will be particularly pleased with their team's play so far.
Dylan Duffy is played in down the left and has a chance to cross. Dave Webster does well to cut out the cross, and with the help of Colm Whelan earns a goal-kick.
The first attempt on target comes after 22 minutes. McNamee whips in a cross from the left, Mihaljevic knocks it down to Mahdy. The number nine turns and shoots, but it's palmed away by Lorcan Healy.
The second ten minute period has been equally as poor as the first. This game needs some excitement injected into it.
Finally the first reasonable attempt from either side. Mihaljevic heads wide of the mark from a corner. A possible achilles heel for UCD, set-pieces.
Chance for UCD as Kerrigan whips a free-kick towards the far post from out wide. Unfortunately for him there's no one there to meet it and out for a goal-kick it goes.
It has been a very poor quality opening ten minutes. No chances of any note. The weather conditions are causing problems for both sides.
Kerrigan bursts down the right and puts a ball into the centre, but it's easily collected by Mark McGinley.
Harps just testing the Students so far. No real breakthroughs, but Ollie Horgan's men are controlling the play.
Jack Keaney picks up a yellow card after a hefty challenge on Yoyo Mahdy.
And the game is underway at the UCD Bowl.
Finn Harps team news: there are debuts for the likes of Filip Mihaljevic and Elie-Gael N'Zeyi, as well as Yoyo Mahdy, who will be more familiar to League of Ireland fans.
UCD team news: Andy Myler makes two changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Shamrock Rovers. Ossam and Gallagher are out. In their places come Daniel Norris and John Ryan.
Hello and welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of UCD vs. Finn Harps. I'm Jon Parkin, and I will be covering this evening's game.