Both teams suffered on UCD pitch, says Dundalk boss

Ciaran Kilduff stated that both teams were affected by the poor condition of the pitch during Friday night’s SSE Airtricity League First Division encounter between UCD and Dundalk FC in Belfield.

Such is the current state of the surface at the UCD Bowl that the League of Ireland has mandated a reversal of UCD’s next home fixture, against Bray Wanderers on April 21st, to allow the pitch time to recover.

As a result, all four of The Students’ upcoming matches will be played away from home.

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Friday’s match against The Lilywhites proved a difficult spectacle, with neither side able to establish any rhythm. However, Dundalk managed to secure a slender 1-0 victory, courtesy of Leo Gaxha’s decisive goal in the 63rd minute.

“I don’t think it was a night for football really,” Dundalk manager Kilduff told The Democrat afterwards. “UCD themselves are a good team, and the pitch and conditions don’t help the way they want to play, but I suppose they’re probably more used to it than us.

“Pitches in this country at this time of year are always under pressure and probably not at the top level, but that was really poor tonight, and it very definitely hampers the game.

“Even looking back, I’m not surprised that the winning goal has come off a second phase of a set-piece. That seems to be the pattern of these types of games. It’s long balls into the box, because you can’t play on it.

“We showed a different side of ourselves tonight, and we needed to utilise the bench. We needed to get different bodies in, and we found a way, which was the most important thing.”

On the condition of the pitch, he added: “It’s worn down. I’ve played here, and it’s usually never like that. There’s an irrigation issue with it as well. This is their last game on it for a month or so, so they’re going to get some work done, and it needs it.

“Thankfully, everyone got off the pitch tonight for both teams (without an injury). We’re obviously delighted to get the win. It wasn’t ideal for them either; I don’t think they’re exactly delighted with it. It’s not like they’ve planned it or anything like that.

“Our own pitch at times in Oriel needs to be better, so everyone has their struggles, but thankfully, as I said, they’ll be getting work on it now in the coming weeks.”

It’s not the first time Dundalk have been forced to dig deep in testing conditions away from home this season, with their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Finn Harps in February also taking place on a difficult surface.

It once again brings to the fore the ongoing debate surrounding artificial pitches in Ireland, with half of the First Division’s 10 clubs, including Dundalk, now playing their home fixtures on synthetic surfaces.

“It’s hard to argue,” admitted Kilduff. “Listen, we all want to play on grass pitches. This isn’t on UCD; Finn Harps had the same, everyone has their problems.

“As a league, we just need to try and make it better if we can. Our own pitch at times isn’t perfect, but that tonight is particularly bad, and it probably hurts UCD more than anybody. It’s not ideal. There’s no point in lying; it’s not good for either team.”

Dundalk’s victory over UCD cements their place at the summit of the First Division table, extending their lead to seven points over second-placed Bray, having claimed an impressive 22 out of a possible 24 points.

On Gaxha’s goal, his third in two matches, Kilduff said: “It’s funny, it’s a bit like what we have with Eoin (Kenny) and Dean Ebbe; they get one, they usually back it up the next week then as well, and hopefully we can keep that streak continuing.

“I’m delighted with the lads. The first goal is vital in games like that. It was never going to be a classic here tonight, with a pitch like that, where both teams were getting to play free-flowing football. We knew it’d be attritional; we planned for exactly that.

“We applied ourselves quite well, considering the situation and the conditions, and as I said, one chance was taken by Leo, and we’re delighted just to move out of here with three points.”