UCC United win their first league game

UCC United made a winning to start to life in the Cork Business and Shipping League when they beat QC Data by the odd goal in five in a tough game in tremendous heat at the Farm.

The lead changed three times. UCC United opened the scoring in the 15th minute through man-of-the-match Marcas McCionnaigh, who pounced on a ball over the top of the QC Data defence and deftly lobbed the outcoming goalkeeper. That lead lasted only 10 minutes, QC Data’s goal coming from a finely struck 25-yard free kick. There was nothing to separate the sides before the break, but QC Data started the second half strongest and their pressure paid off in the 55th minute when a free kick floated into the box and was headed over the despairing UCC United keeper.

In the energy-sapping heat, UCC United dug deep but as the game wore on they were consistently held out by a committed QC Data defence. The equaliser came 15 minutes from time when McCionnaigh latched onto a through ball and with his second touch hit a blistering shot. The keeper got a hand to it but could do nothing to keep it out. The college team sensed a winner could be there for them and indeed in the 88th minute they were rewarded for their hard work. The late winner was worth waiting for, as Dutchman Marcel de Kruijf hit a looping left-footed first-time shot from 30 yards that gave the goalkeeper no chance. For QC Data it was a cruel defeat, though UCC United were delighted to record their first win in their first league game. It is hard to pick out individual players when victory was earned through a strong team performance, though Ronan O’Dubhghaill was very solid at the back, Joel Walmsley and Alan Gibbs worked very hard in the middle and Noel Browne was a constant threat and created the winner.

Declan Jordan, the UCC United manager, was delighted afterwards. He said “it was very important to start with a win in such a competitive league. It was really hard out there in the heat and I couldn’t have asked for more commitment and honesty from the players. Roy Keane thinks he has characters!”.

UCC United Team: R. Gosselin; D. Jordan, R. O'Dubhghaill, C. Courtney, M. Copley; A. Gibbs, M. McCionnaigh, J. Walmsley, M. Liang; N. Browne, M. de Kruijf.