MSL soccer: UCC preserve premier division status after hitting Castleview for four goals in play-off clash

UCC 4

Castleview 0

UCC will be a premier division side again next season following their 4-0 defeat of Castleview in their relegation/promotion play-off game at Blarney United’s O’Shea Park on Wednesday.

For the second season in succession the Students have stayed up following a play-off, but there can be no doubt that they are worth their place in the top flight following this comprehensive win, which came on the back of a fine finish to a campaign during which, at times, they looked like losing their premier status.

Castleview gave it all they had, having finished third behind first division champions Mayfield United and runners-up Carrigaline United, and started the game well with the better of the early chances.

UCC were flat in the opening 20 minutes, and Castleview almost took advantage on a couple of occasions.

The northside outfit had a good chance to open the scoring 13 minutes in when full-back Aaron Broderick found himself high up the pitch and he got a touch on a cross from the left, enough to make space for a shot on the edge of the penalty area which went narrowly wide.

Five minutes later at the other end UCC went close when Daniel McCarthy stretched to get a close-range header in after Derry Howard’s corner was headed back into his path, but Castleview keeper Jordan O’Connor did enough to prevent the chance.

Six minutes later Castleview had a glorious chance to open the scoring when slack defending saw Sam Morrissey play a loose pass across his own goal outside the penalty area. Patrick O’Donoghue reacted quickest to intercept and when faced with UCC keeper Kevin Fitzpatrick on the left side of the penalty area, he tried to plant the ball in the far corner, but the netminder got a hand to it and the danger was cleared.

It was a pivotal moment in the game because UCC scored almost immediately; a break on the left saw the ball worked in to Howard 25 yards from goal, and his low, well-struck shot beat O’Connor in his left-hand corner.

The goal settled the Students and they pushed on. Shortly afterwards Sean Power got up high in the penalty area to get a header away which looped narrowly over the crossbar.

Just before the half-hour mark Zack O’Brien’s low drive fizzed narrowly wide for a corner after it got a slight touch on a Castleview defender, while five minutes later a Shane O’Neill free from distance on the right, driven low, was turned around the post for a corner by O’Connor.

UCC killed off the game with two more goals in the final five minutes of the half. Craig Walsh did well to peel away from his man near the right touchline on halfway and, breaking forward, he turned the ball inside for Power to hit a fine strike from outside the penalty area which beat O’Connor.

Shortly afterwards a Howard corner found McCarthy who rose unmarked to head the ball beyond the Castleview keeper to all but seal the win.

The first division side needed a big response in the second half, but unlike the first period, UCC started the second half with a much improved tempo and moved the ball well and with pace.

They added to their tally just after the hour mark when goalscorer Howard added a second assist when he played a measured pass in behind the Castleview defence. Walsh’s pace took him clear and he rounded O’Connor before tucking the ball into the net.

It was job done for Noel Healy’s men and with a Beamish Cup semi-final date against Avondale United on Saturday they emptied their bench, with goalscorers Howard, Walsh, and Power among those to be called ashore.

Castleview, to their credit, refused to give up, but the Students were well worth their win.

UCC: Kevin Fitzpatrick, Ewan Lee, Shane O’Neill, Sam Morrissey, Prince Iyalla, Daniel McCarthy, Sean Power, Fionn Duggan, Craig Walsh, Zack O’Brien, Derry Howard.

Subs: Andrew O’Sullivan, Michael Fahy, and Ronan Murphy for Power, Walsh and O’Brien (all 71), Darragh Bowdren for Howard (75), Luke O’Halloran for O’Neill (81).

CASTLEVIEW: Jordan O’Connor, Aaron Broderick Kieran Kavanagh, Adam Higgins, Zack Philpott, David O’Keeffe, Patrick O’Donoghue, Jake Murray, Craig Doherty, Cian Madden, Dean Holland.

Subs: Timmy Power for Philpott (36), Jason Magee for Madden (56), Shane Gostl for Murray (70), Eoin Ryan for Kavanagh (75), David Butler for Doherty (82).

Referee: Darren O’Sullivan, assistants Robert O’Leary, Declan Fogarty.