UCD 1 - 1 Shelbourne

It was a case of squandered opportunities for Shelbourne on Friday night as they missed a bucket full of chances against UCD in the Belfield Bowl resulting in the game finishing 1-1.

Shelbourne got off to the perfect start scoring after just two minutes. Paddy Kavanagh ran down the right wing before squaring to David Cassidy. Cassidy just managed to get to the ball before UCD ‘keeper Ger Barron, knocking it around him and then slotting it home.

The game went a little bit quiet after that but was nearly lit up by Conan Byrne after 19 minutes. Picking up the ball in the UCD half he managed to beat two defenders and looked certain to score but for a fantastic sliding tackle by Mick Leahy.

Then, after 21 minutes, UCD managed to get an equaliser that came completely against the run of play. A good corner in from Chris Mulhall on the left hand side allowed Hugh Douglas to rise above the Shels defence and head home.

After 28 minutes Lorcan Fitzgerald had to be stretchered off after coming off worse in a collision with Hugh Douglas. Fitzgerald was subsequently booked by referee Neil Doyle while he was still lying on the stretcher.

Chris Bennion in the Shelbourne goal was forced into his first real action of the game since picking the ball out of his own net when he dived low and to his left to deny Hugh Douglas a second goal.

There were calls for a red card for James Kavanagh when he brought down Philly Hughes after 37 minutes. However Neil Doyle only produced yellow as Kavanagh didn’t look to be last man.

On the stroke of half-time Shels almost went ahead for a second time. Philly Hughes was allowed to turn on the edge of the box and hit a shot that was expertly saved by Ger Barron.

The second half got off to a lively start when, just eight minutes in, Hugh Douglas almost went from being the hero to the villain for UCD. A fantastic cross in from David Cassidy on the right wing forced Douglas to direct the ball towards his own net but Ger Barron pulled off an incredible save to keep the scores level.

Shels kept the pressure on as Conan Byrne fired a low shot inches wide from 20 yards out.

After 68 minutes Byrne had yet another chance as he was played through on goal. However his attempted chip over Ger Barron went wide again.

Next it was David Cassidy to go through for Shels after a fantastic pass through the defence from Conan Byrne. It was quite a tame effort from Cassidy though and Ger Barron saved easily.

After 82 minutes Conan Byrne had another chance and yet he still could not score. Once again he went through one-on-one but Ger Barron saved.

It was all Shelbourne at this point as they pushed for the goal that would have seen them claim the final Setanta Cup spot. The final chance came after 89 minutes when a David Cassidy shot rebounded off Ger Barron. Cassidy then squared to Paddy Kavanagh but his shot was cleared off the line.

And so it finished 1-1. Shels had the chances to win but, to use the cliché, you have to take your chances when you get them. This result meant that Cork City claimed the final Setanta Cup spot.

UCD:  Ger Bannon; Hugh Douglas, Mick Leahy (c), James Kavanagh (Mark Langtry 45), Ciaran Nangle; Dean Clarke, Paul O’Conor, Robbie Benson, Gary Burke (Barry McCabe 63), Chris Mulhall; David McMillan (Chris Lyons 75).
Subs not used: Samir Belhout, Graham Rusk, Mark McGinley, Danny Ledwith.

Booked: J Kavanagh (38), McCabe (66), Leahy (90+1).

Shelbourne:  Chris Bennion; Stephen Hurley (Philip Gorman 92), Andy Boyle, Stephen Paisley, Lorcan Fitzgerald (Barry Clancy 28); Conan Byrne, David Cassidy, Glenn Cronin, Kevin Dawson, Paddy Kavanagh; Philip Hughes.
Subs not used: Paul Skinner, Sean Byrne, Paul Byrne, Stephen Sheerin, Ian Ryan.

Booked: Fitzgerald (28), Cronin (45+1).

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Attendance: 500 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Ger Barron (UCD).