UCD go into European football this weekend with memories still fresh of the one and only other time they pitted themselves against the cream of Europe. The Students did themselves proud in the 1984-85 Cup Winners' Cup when they lost narrowly to Everton over two legs in the first round. UCD were expected to be canon fodder for the Goodison Park team but they rose to the occasion, finally losing 1-0 on aggregate over the two legs.

The Students will have to show the same passion this weekend when they face Bulgaria's FC Velbazhd in the first round, first leg of the InterToto Cup at Belfield (Sunday, 15:15 BST).

But they will have to do it without the services of the only player in the squad who has European experience. Brian Mooney is the man in question. He picked up a three-match European ban while playing for Bohemians in 1996 and, while he believes that he has served his ban, UEFA beg to differ.

UEFA say that Bohs failed to register him for their games in the UEFA Cup the following season and therefore the ban still stands.

Even worse for UCD will be the absence of their captain, Aidan Lynch, who has a knee injury. Tony McDonnell and Peter Hanrahan will also miss out because of injury.