Cruel fate for UCD as Martin returns to have final say

SOCCER/Longford Town 1 UCD 0:If they fail to avoid relegation over the next couple of weeks then what will be a fourth FAI Cup final in seven seasons for Longford Town is likely to feel more than a little bittersweet for Longford Town. As they face into big league games between now and then, however, Alan Mathews and his men can take some pride from the way they dug in to beat UCD in yesterday's semi-final at Belfield Park to set up a meeting with Cork City at the RDS.

Technically, this was not the greatest of contests, particularly early on when both sides struggled with the pace of game. As it went on, though, it became absorbing as Longford, having taken the lead through one of their four former UCD players, Robbie Martin, doggedly defended their advantage and, like City on Friday night, successfully kept their opponents at bay.

The students will rue having passed up some clear-cut chances in a second half they dominated but Pete Mahon conceded his side had paid for a lack of "real quality in the final third", a fact underlined as players in good positions repeatedly attempted to take a touch too many or a second too long before attempting a shot on goal.

For the visitors, Damien Brennan was outstanding at the heart of the defence but there were, as Mathews noted, "plenty of other heroes out there" for his side. Pat Sullivan, who was also back on what had been home soil, may have struggled to contain Pat McWalter early on, but he had a tremendous second half, while the likes of Seán Prunty, Mark Rutherford and Jamie Duffy all had their moments through a consistently challenging second half.

"We really didn't play well," said Brennan afterwards, "but we defended well and UCD will be disappointed not to have gotten something out of it. We won, though, and in a cup semi-final that's what it's about. We're going to a final and we'll go home happy this evening."

Mahon's disappointment at missing out on what would have been his second final as a manager was obvious but he was quietly gracious as he reflected on the efforts of his young side.

"I don't think we could have done much more, to be honest," he said. "We prepared well and dominated for most of the game but maybe it just wasn't to be.

"After the Derry game I thought our name might be on the cup this year but apparently not. Maybe it's theirs instead, I certainly wish them well with it."

Mathews subsequently conceded his players would have to play much better to seriously trouble City in a month's time but, like Brennan, he was happy with the win.

"We had chances to make it a bit easier on ourselves but UCD are a decent team - they've shown that again here today - so the win in a cup semi will more than do us."

The manner of the game's only goal, six minutes before the interval, must have bitterly disappointed Mahon and his players.

It started with a throw-in on the right by Sullivan after which Duffy fed the ball short to Martin, who turned his marker well before curling a low shot into the bottom-left-hand corner.

Within a minute the hosts could have been level, Francis Moran doing well to unsettle Prunty in possession and then release McWalter. But while the shot that followed was good enough to beat Shay Kelly it did not elude Brennan, who stopped it just short of the line.

After that there were primarily half-chances for the students, who could not capitalise on the openings they created.

Longford sought to catch then on the break and Dessie Baker's guile certainly proved a source of problems. Dave Mooney, however, missed the target when presented with one good chance before seeing his injury-time strike quite brilliantly saved by Darren Quigley.

In front of the goalkeeper, Conor Kenna turned in a fine performance while Tony McDonnell, Conor Sammon, Alan Mahon and McWalter all threatened to open up the Longford defence at various times.

None could quite pull in off, though, and McDonnell showed it wasn't all a matter of inexperience by completely failing to connect with Conan Byrne's corner after finding space on the edge of the six-yard box after 75 minutes.

Apart from a Kenna goal that had been disallowed for offside, it was the home side's best chance of the second half and really, given the balance of play, Kelly should have been required to do more.

The closing stages were exciting and the quality of the students' approach work consistently high, but for the third consecutive game between these two sides, they did not have what was required to score a goal.

So Longford go forward to meet a Cork City team that will have to cope with the favourites' tag in the final. Cork have won all three league meetings between the sides this year, but if Mathews's men preserve their league status over the next couple of weeks, they won't lack confidence when the teams meet again on December 2nd.

UCD: Quigley; Mahon, McNally, Kenna, Bermingham; C Byrne (P Byrne, 84 mins), McDonnell, Finn, McWalter; Moran (Forsyth, 84 mins), Sammon.

LONGFORD TOWN: Kelly; Sullivan, Brennan, Prunty, Rutherford; Duffy (Reilly, 85 mins), Doyle, Deegan, Martin; Baker, Mooney.

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).