- Tim Brennan
- Sun, Sep 03 2017
UCD made a winning return to the Belfield Bowl following the conclusion of the Women’s Rugby World Cup. The game had an end of season feel to it and along with a number of other games, is likely to be a victim of the lack of a playoff game resulting from the league’s restructuring to a 10 team format for next season.
From the outset, the tempo was not what either manager would have wanted. Both sides struggled to put together sustained passages of play, and as a result chances were at a premium. The first opportunity came the way of the away side as a long ball into the box was headed down into the path of the onrushing Aaron Dobbs. The striker tried in vain to readjust to get over the ball, but was unable to keep his attempt down.
The Students sought to find space with their passing game, moving the ball around in front of the deep lying Wexford midfield. However, they found it difficult to find any kind of momentum, as Wexford snuffed out much of their attacking intent with little difficulty.
The best chance of the half for the students came the way of the home team and was as simple as it was effective. A long diagonal on to the box found Georgie Kelly who rose well and couldn’t have directed his header any better. However, Danny Bolger in the Wexford goal was equal to it as he dived low to his right and got enough to tip the ball out for corner.
If either manager had sought to inject any kind of momentum into proceedings via their half time teamtalk, it wasn’t obvious as the second half began at very much the same pedestrian pace. Neither side offered any more incision than the prior 45 minutes as both teams continued to struggled.
The 64th minute saw the welcome return of UCD captain Gary O’Neill. Indeed, he and Daire O’Connor injected some life into their side which allowed the students to mount a sustained threat for the first time in the game. O’Neill in particular showed some nice touches as he looked to put an injury frustrated few months behind him.
The home side found a breakthrough on the 75th minute as the Wexford defence failed to clear a low cross into the box. The resultant scramble presented Robert Manley with the simplest of tap ins and he duly obliged.
The college had the opportunity to put the game beyond doubt minutes later as Cian Kavanagh was felled on the box. However Kelly’s penalty was well saved by Bolger who dived to his left to deny the striker. Kelly had a second effort via the rebound, but he could only strike the cross bar with the goal gaping before O’Neil’s final effort trickled wide. Perhaps a fitting end to a disappointing encounter, however both managers will have plenty of food for thought over the coming months.
UCD: Niall Corbett; Josh Collins, Evan Osam, Maxi Kouogon, Daniel Tobin; Jason McClelland (Conor Crowley 88), Andrew O’Reilly (Daire O’Connor 64), Robert Manley, Timmy Molloy (Gary O’Neill 64); Georgie Kelly, Cian Kavanagh.
Subs not used: Conor Kearns, Joe Manley, Simon Power, Ben Hanrahan
Booked: None
Wexford FC: Danny Bolger; Craig McCabe, Sean Hurley, Ross Kenny, Owen McCormack; Conor Sutton (Danny Doyle 80), Mark Slater (Dean George 72), Mickey Byrne, Adam Hanlon (Aaron O’Connor 84); Aaron Dobbs, Dean Kelly
Subs not used: Adam Dempsey, Andy O’Connor, Eoin Porter, AJ Lehane
Booked: Mark Slater
Referee: Marc Lynch
Attendance: 200 (Estimate)
ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Danny Bolger (Wexford)
