0 v 0 
ShelbourneVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 April 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2023 |
Match Report
UCD pick up a point at home to Shels
UCD AFC picked up their second point of the season as they played out a scoreless draw against Shelbourne at the UCD Bowl this evening.
Both teams traded half-chances in a drab opening half. Ciaran Behan curled an effort wide on the break while Jack Moylan saw his effort saved by Kian Moore.
Shelbourne started the second half better than the first and had the best opportunity of the game at the 48th-minute mark when Moylan missed a massive chance. The Reds were unable to open the Students, however, who managed to double their points tally for the season so far.
Shelbourne tried to a quick start with Kian Leavy getting some joy down the right flank but eventually, UCD got to grips with the Reds' attack.
In fact, UCD had the best opportunity of the opening few minutes after a counterattack led by midfielder Dara Keane. The UCD player had acres of space to break through the middle with Behan and Kinsella-Bishop in support. Keane opted to go right to Behan who cut inside but didn’t curl his effort enough which sailed just wide of the post.
Shane Farrell was then needed minutes later to cut out an almost inch-perfect through ball to former Shels player Alex Nolan, which would have put the winger one-on-one with Kearns in the Reds’ net.
The visitors' best chance of the half came just after the half-hour mark when Moylan, all alone, picked up a forward pass. The winger who was played centrally this evening turned and twisted the UCD defenders of Barr and Wells before getting the shot away. Kian Moore did well to get down and deal with the effort.
Shelbourne came out of the blocks much better at the start of the second half and had the best chance of the game within minutes. After UCD failed to clear their lines, Moylan pounced in the six-yard box. While being on the turn, the Kilbarrack winger was in a glorious position but somehow swiped at the effort which went wide.
Ultimately, UCD got to grips once again in the second half and Kian Moore was hardly troubled for the remainder of the game. A series of fouls and stoppages made it difficult for the visitors to get any rhythm going and despite having more possession, were wasteful in the final third.
Worryingly for Shelbourne, one of those stoppages was a lengthy one for Gavin Molloy who picked up a nasty-looking ankle injury midway through the second half. While it is early days, the mood of the travelling Shelbourne fans won’t have been helped by seeing their key man on crutches after the final whistle.
The familiar problems were on display for Damien Duff’s men tonight who are lacking a target man up top. Jack Moylan hasn’t been as prolific through the middle while Cian Leavy and Matty Smith failed to impress.
UCD will be happy to double their points tally for the season and will be hoping to build from here. However, tougher tasks remain as next up for the Students is a trip to Tallaght Stadium to face a Shamrock Rovers team who look to be finding their form. Meanwhile, Shelbourne host Sligo Rovers at Tolka Park on Monday night.
Timeline
| Jesse Dempsey | 43' | |
| 60' | Tyreke Wilson John Ross Wilson | |
| 60' | Matty Smith Kyle Robinson | |
| 68' | Gavin Molloy Andrew Quinn | |
| 68' | JJ Lunney Mark Coyle | |
| Danu Kinsella Bishop Jake Doyle | 74' | |
| 3. Adam Wells | 75' | |
| 75' | 27. Evan Caffrey | |
| 77' | Shane Farrell Jad Hakiki | |
| Alex Nolan Daniel Norris | 79' | |
| 13. Donal Higgins | 80' | |
| 81' | 12. Jad Hakiki |
Past Meetings
|
(Round 33)
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Tolka Park Shelbourne 1-1 UCD AFC |
|
(Round 25)
0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC 0-2 Shelbourne |
|
(Round 17)
2 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Tolka Park Shelbourne v UCD AFC |
|
(Round 3)
0 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Shelbourne |
|
(Series 27)
1 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Tolka Park Shelbourne v University College Dublin AFC |
|
(Series 18)
0 - 0LOI Men's First Division
UCD Bowl University College Dublin AFC v Shelbourne |
|
(1st Round)
2 - 0FAI Cup
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Shelbourne |
|
(Series 9)
3 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Tolka Park Shelbourne v University College Dublin AFC |
Ground
| UCD Bowl |
|---|
| UCD Bowl, Greenfield Park, Greenfield, Roebuck, Clonskeagh-Belfield ED, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, County Dublin, Leinster, D04 XT65, Ireland |
Conor Paterson
Conor Paterson is a Dublin-based journalist and student. He is the former editor of the UCD newspaper, the College Tribune, where he is also undertaking an undergraduate degree. Passionate about football on and off the pitch, he is determined to promote UCD AFC and Irish football on the Belfield campus.
Full-time at the UCD Bowl. It finishes 0-0 and UCD gets a hard-fought point.
Time for maybe one final chance as UCD continue to clear their lines.
Kian Moore is down holding his head which eats up some valuable time after dealing with a Shels delivery.
6 additional minutes at the Bowl! Can either side get a winner?
The substitute Daniel Norris finds himself in a rare spot through on goal but after Kearns makes a save, the linesman calls him up for offside.
The changes and bookings have taken the sting out of the game somewhat with neither side taking control of the proceedings.
Hakiki earns a yellow and gives UCD a chance to give their defence a rest.
Another change to break the flow of the game. Norris on for Nolan.
Jad Hakiki replaces Shane Farrell for Shels' final sub.
Adam Wells is booked for a very cynical foul to stop a Shels break. Smart play which enraged the travelling fans. Also, Evan Caffrey is booked on his return to the Bowl.
Jake Doyle replaces Kinsella-Bishop for the first change for the hosts.
Kian Leavy takes and overcooks the delivery. Goalkick for UCD.
Shels are trying to get the tempo back up after the lengthy stoppage and the substitute Quinn wins a freekick in a good position deep in their attacking half.
Gavin Molloy is down receiving treatment and looks in a lot of pain. May have been some contact or perhaps a victim of the UCD pitch. Either way, he can't continue and is replaced by Andrew Quinn. Also, Mark Coyle replaces JJ Lunney.
Corner for Shels after some nice play from Leavy and Moylan on the left. They go short but UCD are alive to the danger.
Double change for Shels as JR Wilson and Kyle Robinson replace Tyreke Wilson and Matty Smith.
Matty Smith goes down in the box and Shels fans roar...referee blows for a free kick out. A better start to the half from Shelbourne here and UCD are under serious pressure.
Close! Tyreke Wilson hits it and it scrapes the outside of the post. Moore was in no mans land there.
Dara Keane fouls Lunney in a really dangerous position. Chance for Shels here, foul looked soft...
Great start to the half from Shels and Moylan misses a huge chance! A ball into the UCD box isn't cleared by Dempsey and Nolan. Moylan pounces and has an effort in the air on the turn but right in front of the goal. He swipes at it and it goes wide much to the dismay of the Dubliner.
Kian Leavy gets us back underway at the Bowl!
Half-time at the bowl 0-0.
One final chance of the half as UCD win a free after a Matty Smith for a foul on Barr. Kearns comes out to collect the Behan delivery.
Jesse Dempsey gets the first booking of the night and gives Shels a chance to deliver a ball into the box. Keaney wins the delivery for UCD but there are some appeals for a penalty after a push, nothing doing according to the referee.
Plenty of ball for Shelbourne but very little service for Moylan. This time Matty Smith is the culprit when he completely misplaced a pass after some nice spell of possession in the Shel's build-up.
Great save from Kian Moore who does well to knock down a shot from Jack Moylan who did well to turn on the ball and drive at the UCD defence.
A good switch of play earns Shels a corner as Tyreke Wilson knocks the ball off Barr. The following set piece is cleared as far as JJ Lunney who strikes a long-range effort wide.
After a solid start, Shelbourne have lost their early momentum as UCD make their way back into the game. Plenty of sloppy passes not helping Shels and UCD will be fairly pleased with the opening half an hour.
Great defending from Shane Farrell who cut out a through ball to Alex Nolan which would have put the former Shels man through on goal. Better few minutes for the Students.
The first shot of the game for UCD as Dara Keane leads away a counterattack before laying off the ball to Behan. The winger cuts inside but doesn't curl his effort enough and it sails around the post. Perhaps UCD should have done more with the opportunity and it's a warning for the visitors.
The Students are dropping deeper as the away side up the intensity of their play. Kian Leavy is looking threatening down the right flank for Shels.
After a little spell of UCD possession Shels respond with a lovely bit of play as Moylan sets Smith away down the flank with a lovely pass. The winger's cross is cleared by Wells but great flick-on from Moylan who will be hoping to get on the scoresheet tonight.
Appeals for a penalty for Shels as Leavy goes down after bursting by Jesse Dempsey in the UCD box. The was a little bit of contact but not enough for a penalty kick.
Lively opening few minutes as Shelbourne start on the front foot looking to exploit options down the wings.
Good play from Kian Leavy down the right side of the UCD box gets a ball across the goal but Moylan can't make contact with the delivery.
Kinsella-Bishop gets us underway!
Plenty of noise from the travelling Shels fans as the two teams emerge.
While UCD remains winless and bottom of the league, Duff expects a tough game tonight. Speaking to club media in the run-up to the fixture, he said "UCD are a good side, their current position probably does not reflect the talent they have, they get more dangerous the longer that wait for a win goes on."
As for the visitors, Damien Duff makes three changes. JJ Lunney, Kameron Ledwidge and Kian Leavy are introduced in place of JR Wilson, Shane Griffin and the suspended Paddy Barrett.
Team news is out from Belfield and it's two changes for the home side. Jessie Dempsey and Danu Kinsella-Bishop replace Michael Gallagher and Harvey O'Brien from their 3-0 defeat to St. Patrick's Athletic last week.
Good evening and welcome to FinalWhistle.ie coverage of tonight's SSE Airtricity League Premier Division clash between UCD AFC and Shelbourne F.C. I'm Conor Paterson and I will be bringing you live updates throughout and a post-match report after the full-time whistle.