On Tuesday, Dublin University Association Football Club (DUAFC) attempted to repent for last week’s devastating loss to University College Dublin (UCD), taking on Maynooth University in their first home game in this year’s Colleges and Universities Football League (CUFL). However, despite some sparks of brilliance, Trinity’s footballers failed to capitalise on a Maynooth sending-off, and the visitors squeaked past them to win 1-0.
Both sides had to endure blustery conditions and a leaf-ridden College Park, which made it challenging to connect passes. DUAFC had the first real chance of the game, with a cross from Jamie Rice missing the mouth of the goal by a hair’s breadth. Maynooth had the lion’s share of possession in the first half, frequently putting pressure on the Trinity net. However, their attempts at goal seemed careless, and Devin Connolly’s clean sheet remained intact.
Trinity almost won a penalty after a rash challenge on Jason Boateng, but the referee declared it to be a free kick instead, which subsequently went nowhere. Trinity’s crucial error came when Maynooth’s Cillian Duffy pushed past Evan McCrory and laid the ball off to Cian Hughes. Hughes’s powerful shot skimmed along the turf and into the Trinity net.
DUAFC, urged on by manager Richie Maguire, kept playing the same way. By the half-time whistle the teams seemed evenly matched, and despite the scoreline, the large crowd that had assembled in support of the home side were still in good spirits.
In the 50th minute, Maynooth’s Darragh Gannon was awarded a yellow card for arguing with the referee. Gannon did not seem to get the message and continued his protestations, leaving the referee with no choice but to send him off. This presented a golden opportunity for DUAFC, who were now facing 10 men. While Trinity did go on the offensive in response, their shots mostly consisted of sloppy and misdirected volleys, which were no threat to Maynooth goalkeeper Michael Kelly.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Maynooth still looked threatening at times. Just past the hour mark, Daniel Grant seized the ball after a failed Trinity attack and sped down the length of the pitch, only to have his close attempt smothered by a careful Devin Connolly.
The dying embers of the game showed a growing rift in the quality of the two sides. DUAFC’s attempts at goal fell victim to an inability to control the ball in air and on the wing, while the outnumbered visitors retreated into their own half to defend their 1-0 lead. One final attempt from Trinity’s Chris Straessle in the final moments rocketed over the bar.
The final whistle blew, and Trinity had lost their second consecutive game of the college football season. Although the teams were evenly matched in the first half, DUAFC’s downfall was precipitated by their inability to convert the chances they created, in a match where a mid-game sending off should have given them the impetus to grab that crucial equaliser.
