O'Neill cautiously optimistic as UCD threaten a second coming

UCD may find themselves with the youngest team in the league. UCD may find themselves with, supposedly, an even weaker team this season. And so, as the Talking Heads song goes, UCD may ask themselves: "How did we get here?"

The words "UCD" and "title race appeared in the same heading in this newspaper last Monday week and no doubt sent a shiver down the spine of Dr Tony O'Neill. Easy does it, is his preferred credo, though a third successive victory over Home Farm/Everton last Saturday night means they entertain Dundalk next Sunday occupying second place in the Premier Division for only the second time in their history. The youngest kids on the block irreverently cocking a snoot at all bar Bohemians.

Of course it's early days yet and realistically a title challenge would be a stunning effort from the students (now a bit of a misnomer in that several of them have graduated). Ironically, they seemed better equipped last season but teething problems upon their return to the top flight were compounded by a rash of injuries and suspensions.

With the departure of Packie Lynch and James Keddy, and injuries to Conor Timmons, Aidan Lynch, until recently Jason Sherlock and, most upsettingly, striker Mick O'Byrne, another season of establishing themselves amongst the big boys seemed their lot.

Their fine form at Belfield Park has carried over to this season (25 points from their last 11 games), but the wins away to Bray and Home Farm either side of a home win over Derry have really made people sit up and take notice, amongst them Pat Devlin.

"Only three teams have outplayed us this season. Bobs, UCD and Shels," says the Bray manager. They are easily the best the sides we've faced. I thought Farm would be a big test for them, especially for their own mental strength, but they came through it and now I think they could be a big threat."

Devlin was particularly impressed by the their physical stature. Learning their lessons from last year, UCD have beefed up in the weights room. A one time soft touch, now they compete with the best. Though they strive to play good ball and don't endanger any low flying species, it hasn't always been the beautiful game this season. Kelly's left footed craft has been missed. Most of all O'Byrne's dribbling, vision, pace and finishing (well, he's quite a player) has been absent.

Despite keyhole surgery, the prognosis on O'Byrne's knee injury remains unclear and will not be fully re assessed for another three or four weeks. In the meantime, they will need their continuing solidity at the back (three successive clean sheets and a defensive record equalled only by. Derry), where Tony McDonnell is blossoming alongside Terry Palmer.

Palmer must be the best young defender in the league. In front of him, Jason Colwell must be the best young midfielder, Tony Sheridan apart. They are honest and disciplined everywhere with no passengers. With Sherlock's ability to turn defenders and take them on, their attacking threat is mushrooming by the week.

UCD for Europe? The last time I wrote that, over a decade ago, I added the rider "and we all get the joke". As they duly did, I've never been allowed forget it. Who knows this time'? Dr O'Neill is shuddering again.

"We won't be getting carried away. In this game you can be knocked off your pedestal very quickly," insists a typically cautious O'Neill. Of this encouraging start, a surprise, perhaps, to everyone beyond UCD, O'Neill says: "It's very hard to draw conclusions yet, but you have to give credit to the players who've come in." In addition to McDonnell, Declan Fitzgerald and Michael O'Donnell have nailed down places on the left.

"A lot of it is good teamwork and Colwell has done a great job as captain. The weights programme and Foppe de Haan have been helpful, but we've also had a better sense of professionalism, with training gear supplied by O'Neill's and we're delighted that Budweiser have agreed to a three year extension as sponsors.

With plans in the offing to develop an all seater ground adjacent to both the `bowl' and the sports centre, and a team of scholarship products sitting loftily in the table, the future has never looked so bright.

This second coming, as it were, seems to be giving O'Neill even more pleasure than the first. "It's important to stress that we're introducing a new breed of player that's different from what is generally going round the system. It's good for the development of the game as well as ourselves."

The season may yet show that UCD are in something of a false position (after Dundalk they face a resurgent Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians back to back). Yet the really exciting aspect of their current position is that UCD's best football is still to come.