Derry City 2 - 4 UCD

UCD produced a remarkable and deserved come-from-behind win against a lacklustre Derry City side at the Brandywell on Friday evening. Amazingly the tie was scoreless at half time but the second half was as incident packed as you are ever likely to see in a game of football.

The first half was a relatively quiet affair with only a few half chances to report. The first chance of any note fell to the visitors in the 22nd minute when Craig Walsh dispossessed Michael Rafter and sent a thumping shot goalwards which Doherty tipped round his post.

In the 29th minute Mark Griffin flighted a lovely cross in towards Rory Patterson but the Derry striker headed over when he should have done better. A Simon Madden cross again found Patterson but his tame header was easily gathered by O'Donnell. That was pretty much it for the first period and when Paul McLaughlin blew up for half time no-one could surely have predicted what lay in store in the second half.

In the 52nd minute Derry were unlucky not to take the lead as shots from first Griffin and then Madden were cleared off the line. But it was the Students who broke the deadlock in the 60th minute. David McMillan cut through the centre of Derry's midfield and Gerard Doherty could only parry his shot as far as Robbie Benson who coolly rifled the ball into the bottom corner.

This setback seemed to spur the home side into action and a perfectly measured McCaffrey cross found the head of Michael Rafter who really should have scored. Two minutes later the home side levelled the game with a stunning finish. Mark Griffin clipped the ball through to Rory Patterson who buried his first time shot on the turn giving O'Donnell no chance.

Four minutes later Derry took the lead after Patterson was fouled on the edge of the area. Barry McNamee stepped up and curled a beautiful free kick past a despairing O'Donnell. Derry had their tails well and truly up now and could have extended their advantage through shots from Patterson and McNamee again.

The drama was however only beginning to unfold and in the 80th minute McMillan broke through but was fouled in the area by Dermot McCaffrey. The referee pointed straight to the spot as well as brandishing a red card to McCaffrey deeming him to be the last man. McMillan coolly blasted the ball past Doherty to level the game.

Ten man Derry were at sixes and sevens and four minutes later Griffin committed a foul on the edge of the area and once again Mr McLaughlin pointed to the spot. McMillan blasted the ball straight down the middle to give UCD the lead.

Derry City were in shock at this point  and went all out to try and salvage something from the game. Griffin and Patterson both had penalty claims waved away and by committing so many men forward, there was no surprise when a counter attack by the visitors found Dean Clarke who bore down on goal and rifled an unstoppable shot past Doherty to give the away side a magnificent win.

UCD have now won three of their last four and will be buoyant at the manner of his side's victory. Declan Devine will on the other hand be wondering where his sides early season form has gone as they crashed to their second successive defeat.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Simon Madden, Stewart Greacen (Michael Duffy 87), Ryan McBride, Dermot McCaffrey; Barry Molloy(c), Sean Houston, Barry McNamee; Mark Griffin, Michael Rafter (Patrick McEleney 68), Rory Patterson.
Subs not used: James Gallagher, Tony McNamee, Conal Kelly, Ryan Curran.

Booked: Ryan McBride, Barry Molloy.
Sent Off: Dermot McCaffrey.

UCD: Conor O'Donnell; Hugh Douglas, David O'Connor(c), James Kavanagh, Sean Russell (Tom O'Halloran 73); Robbie Benson, Barry McCabe (Gary Burke 82), Craig Walsh, Dean Clarke; Cillian Morrison (Colm Crowe 73), David McMillan.
Subs not used: Mark Langtry, Mark McGinley, Sean Coyne, Daniel Corcoran.

Booked: David O'Connor.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin .

Attendance: 1,700 (estimate).

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: David McMillan (UCD).