United go down by odd goal in five in league opener

UCC United lost their opening league game of the season by the odd goal in five against Freescale at Grangevale Park on Saturday afternoon. Freescale began the match with ten players and College capitalised on their numerical supremacy after twenty minutes. Gavin Kinsley did extremely well to dig out a cross from the left wing; Aidan Power controlled the ball on his chest and struck a beautiful shot to the roof of the net on the half-volley. UCC were comfortably in control for the remainder of the half although numerical balance was achieved when their opponents introduced a player, a bustling centre forward who was to have a major influence on the game.

There was an even start to the second half but then UCC collapsed in spectacular fashion during an extraordinary ten-minute spell. First, Freescale’s newly introduced centre forward netted the equaliser from a direct free-kick. Minutes later he went down in the penalty area under Trevor Darby’s challenge and the subsequent kick was scored. Within another five minutes College carelessly lost the ball in defence and a right wing cross was converted by a free header in the penalty area.

To their credit, UCC fought back and Dave O’Sullivan scored from the penalty spot following a hand ball infringement. UCC had twenty minutes to carve out an equaliser and piled on the pressure. Joel Walmsley had a chance when put through by Dave O’Sullivan but he was crowded out before getting his shot away. A Freescale defender nearly put through his own net with a frantic sliced clearance and, in the last minute, Evan Healy spurned a gilt-edged opportunity when his left-footed effort went just outside the post.

For UCC, Liam Weeks excelled throughout the ninety minutes and did not deserve to be on the losing side.

UCC United: Groeger; Darby, O’Brien, Weeks, Gibbs; Power, Quinlivan, Healy, Kinsley; Walmsley, O’Sullivan Subs: Hernando, Coffey, Nwokoye