League Report: UCD 1 - 3 Dundalk

Andrew Dempsey reports from the UCD Bowl

UCD suffered their second defeat in four days against a streetwise Dundalk at the UCD Bowl thanks to the individual brilliance of Michael Duffy.

UCD took an early lead through Yoyo Mahdy but it soon evaporated thanks to goals from Patrick Hoban, Duffy and Georgie Kelly at the death.

Under the beaming sunshine at Belfield, there was a distinct summer feel to the game as both teams looked to secure a positive result in the capital.

Collie O’Neill’s charges have had a fairly impressive run of form at the Belfield Bowl in recent weeks with three wins in their last four while the Lilywhites had lost on their last two previous day away outings heading into this Bank Holiday fixture.

Dundalk pressed early on and almost forced a calamitous error at the back from the Students netminder Kearns, however, the ball just about went wide much to the relief of the 2018 First Division winners.

However, despite their early dominance, the Lilywhites were punished for some slack defending as Mahdy sent UCD one clear. The ever-impressive Conor Davis linked up well with Sean McDonald to send through the in-form Mahdy in who made no mistake from close-range.

With UCD looking to calm the game down, Dundalk went up the other way straight away and won a penalty through the electric Daniel Kelly.

The former Bray Wanderers wide man was pulled down by Paul Doyle as Patrick Hoban made no mistake from twelve yards to score his sixth of the season.

The game continued in its quite high-octane nature with Gary Rogers making a crucial stop from Neil Farrugia’s low drive after being fed in by the returning Timmy Molloy to keep the score-line level.

Next up with a guilt-edged opportunity was Hoban, who looked all but set to send the Co. Louth side ahead. Duffy produced a majestic flick to get past Daniel Tobin, however, Hoban headed straight at Kearns who saved well.

Sean Gannon went close next for Dundalk, but his stinging effort was palmed away by the busy Kearns after Duffy’s ball in from wide escaped the grasp of Hoban’s head. Hoban then went close shortly after, but his shot curled just wide.  

Chris Shields was next to test the Students with a sweetly-struck effort that Kearns tipped away from the top corner just before the break.

The drama continued right up until the break with Dundalk’s Duffy striking the back of the net, only for the referee to insist that his whistle had sounded prior to the strike. The Lilywhites pleads were met on deaf ears although.

Feeling hard done by, Dundalk began the second half strong and took a one goal advantage thanks to the individual brilliance of Michael Duffy.

The 2018 PFAI Player of the Year went on a slaloming run, jinking past the UCD defence with ease to round Kearns and slot the ball into the back of the empty net.

As the hour mark approached, Dundalk looked to turn the screw to secure all three points through the mercurial Hoban, but Kearns got down smartly to avert the danger.

Enjoying a brief respite of pressure, the Students created a decent opening from the trick Conor Davis as he fed in the shackled Farrugia whose effort was deflected wide.

Compared to the opening half, the second half was far less action packed with both sides continuing to probe with little to no avail.

With time desperately running out for the Students, Farrugia saw his header creep wide after Gary O’Neill’s central ball into the box. 

With seconds to go, Jordan Flores got on the end of a long ball in down the flanks. Flores sent in former Student Georgie Kelly who sealed all three points for Vinny Perth’s side.

UCD: Conor Kearns; Josh Collins, Paul Doyle, Liam Scales, Dan Tobin; Neil Farrugia, Sean McDonald (Jason McClelland, 69), Timmy Molloy, Gary O'Neill; Conor Davis, Yousef Mahdy (Richie O'Farrell, 80). 

Subs not used: Kevin Coffey, Darragh Corcoran, Mark Dignam, Evan Farrell, Gavin Sheridan. 


Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Sean Hoare, Dean Jarvis; Michael Duffy, Daniel Kelly (Jordan Flores, 87), Patrick McEleney (John Mountney, 75), Jamie McGrath, Chris Shields; Patrick Hoban (Georgie Kelly, 80). 

Subs not used: Daniel Cleary, Dane Massey, Aaron McCarey, Joe McKee.

Booked: Patrick Hoban (53)


Referee: Damien MacGraith 

Attendance: 1,176

ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Michael Duffy (Dundalk).