Soccer club keep Cup for fourth year
Jack O’Connell
March 10 2005
UCC 3
UCD 0
For the fourth successive year and the fifth time in six years, UCC have succeeded in bringing the Collingwood Cup back to The Peoples Republic of Cork. Dominance is the only word that could be used to describe UCC’s current foothold on one of the most coveted trophies in Irish football today. This year U.C.C did it in some style when they emphatically demolished UCD 3-0 on Friday in Limerick.
UCD went into the game as the bookies favourites on the back of their recent Harding Cup victory but this premature confidence was quickly knocked out of them by UCCís veteran striker Mark Tobin in the tunnel before the game. Bystanders were left perplexed when Tobin bellowed “They may have won the Harding but they ainít taking our Collingwood!” This characteristic outburst from Tobin left UCD quaking in their boots.
Although the game was played in adverse weather conditions, which was not particularly conducive to good football, UCC still managed to get the ball on the deck and succeeded in playing some sharp attacking football. It was clear from the outset that UCC wanted to win the physical battle and then let the flowing football prevail.
After stifling the flow of UCD attackers UCC took the lead through a stunning free kick from playboy full back Graham Wilshaw on the half hour mark. After the match Wilshaw aka ‘Robbie Fowler’ commented “I fancied my chances when I stepped up to take it. After training every day I used to stay behind with Barry Leahy for hours practicing free kicks over and over so I knew if I connected well I had a great chance of scoring.”
UCD’s only effort of the first half came from a 25 yard shot from their Stephen Hurley which Brendan O Connell gathered easily. UCC exuded class all over the park. Irish International Brendan Oí Connell and his well organised back four of Alan Ryan, Owen Costine, Adrian Desmond and Graham Wilshaw did not concede a goal all tournament. Ryan and Costine were absolute calmness personified and they were a rock at the back for UCC over the five days.
In midfield Barry Leahy was simply class, Nigel Fleming UCCíS pin-up boy was immense, Eoin Ryan showed why he was the fans’ favourite throughout the tournament with his deft flicks and touches, while Joe Donovans experience showed.
UCC strikers Robert Heffernan and Mark Tobin had a great understanding up front. To think that this UCC team was without Collinwood legend Shane ‘Wanchope’ Hennessy who damaged ankle ligaments in the first game against Queens and also without captain Darren ‘cliche’ Hayes shows what a talented squad they possessed.
The second half started like the first with UCC again in the ascendancy. UCC Star striker Robbie Heffernan got the reward his efforts deserved after 61 minutes when he ran onto a long ball from workhorse midfielder Barry Leahy, knocked it over keeper Gallagherís head and tapped home from six yards. UCD tried to keep up the pace but never threatened the UCC and it only looked like a matter of time before UCC went further in front.
The Cork side duly put the game out of UCDís reach nine minutes from time when full back Adrian Desmond got to the byline and put in an inch perfect cross for Mark ‘tubs and tiles’ Tobin who caused mayhem in the UCD box. Super sub Mick Murphy made the most of the confusion, side footing home from six yards.
Speaking after the game UCC central defender Alan ìRhinoî Ryan said “Too right boy! This is a deadly buzz boy! Its unbelievable. The college has never won four in a row before. The lads were superb and to be part of a team like this is just fantastic.” Owen ‘Coin’ Costine agreed that the victory was a deadly buzz.
Team captain Darren ‘clichÈ’ Hayes said “It was a game of two halves, at the end of the day all credit to UCD for putting up a good fight, itís a funny old game, but it was just one of those days when everything we did went according to plan.î
An ecstatic Canice Kennedy saluted his players afterwards. “This squad only contained eight of last year’s victorious panel, so the new guys got into the Collingwood spirit straight away. God invented grass to pass the ball on and thatís exactly what we did today.”
UCC: OíConnell, Desmond (Horgan 86), Wilshaw, Costine, A Ryan, Donovan, Leahy, Fleming (Herlihy 67) Tobin (Heneghan), Heffernan (Lonergan 86), E Ryan (Murphy 75).
UCD: Gallagher, Bowers, McNeff, Shortall, Daly. (Keane 74), McWalter (Doyle 62) , Hurley, Byrne, Salmon, Hussey.
