A great save by UCC United goalkeeper, Dave Groeger, with three minutes remaining made sure UCC United didn't undeservedly go home empty-handed in this thrilling first game in the University Shield. There was nothing to separate these teams on the pitch or in the scoreline. A summer without football meant both sets of strikers were too rusty to make the breakthrough in the first half. This takes nothing away from both goalkeepers, Groeger and Cash's Chris Hayes, who both put in very impressive performances.
In persistent rain the two teams had chances to take the lead in the first half. Cash's Tom Holohan was dominating in the centre of the field and almost everything went through him for Cash's. The UCC United midfield took some time to get a grip on the game but when they did the chances started to materialise. Gavin Kinsley went closest for the college side when he cut inside off the left wing and let fly with a tremendous shot that rattled the crossbar.
It was nip and tuck to the break and both sides went in scoreless. The deadlock was broken after 55 minutes when Shane Hegarty scored a fine goal to capitalise on a lapse in concentration by the college defense.
The goal meant that Cash's had their tails up and with Declan Hegarty performing well at the heart of the defense it was going to take something special to get UCC United back into the game. And it was a great goal by Kinsley that did it after 65 minutes. He knocked it past the Cash's full-back and hit it neatly under Hayes in the Cash's goal as he advanced.
Cash's had the better chances towards the end, with a series of corners keeping the UCC defense under pressure. The ball did end up in the net but it was ruled out for a foul on the college keeper.
A draw was a fair result and these two sides are likely to put on a couple of good battles when they meet in the league.
Meanwhile, the other game was more one-sided, with LC Services running out comfortable 4-1 winners over County Council. There were braces for Adrian Noonan and Kieran Wolfe and after going ahead in the first 10 minutes, LC Services never looked back. It was 3-0 at half-time and LC Services added a fourth early in the second.
It was clear that a weakened Council side struggled in their first pre-season game, though as the game progressed they managed to settle and test LC Services more. Their consolation goal game from Ger Fitzgerald who scored a remarkable goal direct from a corner kick. Fitzgerald was Council's best performer. Other Council players that performed well included Paul Killeen, Brian Dunne and Greg Mannix.
LC Services will be more than happy with their opening game in this tournament, which puts them in pole position. Council are far from out of things and will strengthen throughout the tournament. The remaining fixtures are Cashs Export v LC Services and UCC United v County Council on Tuesday and the final round UCC United v LC Services and Cash's v County Council on Thursday.
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