With so much at stake this always promised to be a highly competitive encounter and the pundits were not disappointed. The Reserves players were told beforehand that this was the most prestigious game in the club’s history and every player rose to the challenge putting in an outstanding team effort.

The University 2nds, after a comfortable 4-0 win in their opening league game and knocking a strong Fitzgeralds team out of the Minor Cup started as firm favourites but to be fair to them were well up for the game and knew better than to take the Green and Black lightly.

The game started at a hectic pace which was maintained for 90 minutes by two highly committed and fit sides, pleasingly it was those in the Green and Black shirts who finished stronger. Central defenders, skipper Alex Martin and fit again “Trigger” Robinson immediately sent a physical message to the visitors and remained dominant all game. Keeper Dave Martin only had one real save to make all game and when he was called into action he stood up well to make a game saving stop. With skilful fullbacks Paul Menton and Brendan Mallie, back from a month out with a knee injury, defending competently and starting attacks with composure, the Reserves had a solid base.

The midfield were equally impressive, the super-charged Rich Turner was inspirational down the left with his pace and aggression constantly upsetting the University players. The silky skilled Dave Cave and the industrious Tim Burke-Murphy and David Alexander combined with Turner to win the midfield battle. Up front stalwart Gaz Hopkins and Chris Dawson ran themselves into the ground and gave the University defence a torrid time.

Unfortunately depite the best efforts of all in a Green and Black shirt, few clear chances were created. Turner missed the best opportunity when he bravely headed the ball off a defenders foot sprinted clear but with team mates lined up in the 6 yard box he went for glory and saw his effort well blocked by the excellent visiting keeper who along with the outstanding centre half Dan Laycock were the pick of the opposition. The University were equally incapable of creating clear chances as the few times they got behind the Reserves defence a brave Green and Black head or foot would come to the rescue.

Despite the loss of D.Cave as a precautionary measure in his comeback bid, the Reserves continued to impress. Debutant Sam King immediately looked at home in his centre midfield berth and looks like another fine addition to the club making the squad even stronger. To the credit of both sides the pace and intensity did not slacken in the second half as chances at either end remained scarce, Al Hindle made a useful Reserve team debut as sub for the tiring Dawson but the University held on for point. This has to rank as one of the best performances in the club’s history and should be a massive confidence booster for the rest of the season.

The University left the field irate at the performance of the referee and his supposed bias against them and at the over physical approach of the Reserves but their intelligent players will realise that a draw was a fair result.

Team: D.Martin, M.Menton, B.Mallie, D.Cave (S.King), A.Martin (c), D.Robinson, T.Burke-Murphy,
D.Alexander, G.Hopkins, C.Dawson (A.Hindle), R.Turner