19.45 26 Jul 2013 - The UCD Bowl
Referee: Sean Grant
UCD -v- Shelbourne
- Gareth O'Reilly
- Thu, Jul 25 2013
UCD
UCD welcome Shelbourne to the UCD Bowl on Friday night in what is being billed as a relegation six pointer for both sides. (7.45 KO).
There are only three points separating the bottom four sides meaning that this season will surely consist of one of the most exciting relegation battle in years. If UCD lose they could find themselves bottom of the league by the end of play on Friday but the students will be in confident mood having secured a highly impressive draw against Shamrock Rovers last time out.
On the injury front for The Students captain Mick Leahy continues to be sidelined with a groin complaint in what has been an extremely frustrating year for the skipper who is yet to play a league game all season. Robbie Creevy is the other absentee having suffered a thigh injury two weeks ago.
While Martin Russell is aware of just how important this game is in UCD’s season he has also been keen to stress to his players that it is only one game in a long gruelling campaign.
"The result against Rovers shows we can match the best in the country on our day, and we will need to be in similar form to fight off a resurgent Shelbourne side. The final whistle will not define our season but it is definitely a match we are focusing on to ensure we continue to retain our position and progress in the Premier Division."
Shelbourne
Johnny McDonnell's squad travel to Belfield on Friday evening hoping to build on their 2-1 win over Limerick last weekend. Shels are currently on their best run of form all season having secured 7 points in their last 3 games.
With the last 5 teams all within 5 points of each other this weekends games could have a massive impact on who gets relegated come October. This feeling is heightened as four of those clubs are in action against each other with Bohs taking on Drogheda while UCD take on Shelbourne.
There is some good news for the league's basement side as they can once call on the services of Robert Bayly who returns from injury. However Johnny McDonnell will still have to plan for this game without the services of Paul Crowley and Gareth O’Connor who are both still missing through injury.
To make matters worse Ian Ryan and Graham Gartland must both sit this one out due to the accumulation of too many yellow cards. Shels have one of the smallest squads in the league so it will certainly be interesting to see how they cope without four of their top players.
Referee: Sean Grant
Match Facts
Shels have already beaten UCD twice this year, once in the league (2-0) and once in the Leinster Senior Cup (2-1).
Dean Kelly is Shels top goalscorer this season having banged in 6 goals while Dean Clarke is UCD’s with 5 goals to his name.
UCD and Shels both have the same goal difference of -18 although UCD have conceded on average 2.3 goals a game while Shels have let in 1.48 goals per game.
Betting
UCD 8/5 Draw 9/4 Shelbourne 8/5
Prediction
UCD 2-1 Shelbourne
UCD
Injured: Robbie Creevy (thigh), Mick Leahy (groin)
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Shelbourne
Injured: Paul Crowley, Gareth O’Connor
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Ian Ryan, Graham Gartland
About Gareth O'Reilly
Gareth is the Editor of Extratime.ie. Gareth began as a normal reporter covering games all over Dublin before being asked to help out with behind the scene activities and eventually moving into the role of …