Prem Div: UCD 1 - 1 Limerick FC

It was honours even in a sunny Belfield Bowl on Friday night as an early Shane Tracy goal was cancelled out by Robbie Benson’s second half strike to give both teams a hard fought point.

Having dominated for large spells, it could have gone horribly wrong for Limerick who had to finish the game with nine men because of an injury to Pat Purcell and a late red card for Jeffrey Judge.

The game was only four minutes old when Limerick went ahead with their first real chance of the game. Danny Galbraith collected the ball on the right hand side, and with a low cross found Shane Tracy. Tracy struck the ball first time with his “weaker” right foot past a diving Conor O’Donnell into the corner of the UCD goal.

The visitors had the bit between the teeth after that, and pressed on looking for a second. First Dave O’Leary’s fierce shot was parried by O’Donnell, before Craig Curran tried to chip the ball over the young keeper – only to see his effort sail over the bar.

As the game reached the midway point of the first half, the Students began to come more into it as they tried to release David McMillan with over the top balls. The first of these, on 24 minutes, was expertly dealt with by the alert Stephen Folan, while six minutes later it took an out-rushing Shane Cusack to see the ball clear.

With half time approaching, Limerick again pressed for a second goal. On 36 minutes Curran capitalised on sloppy UCD play at the back, but his low drive was impressively saved by the Student’s goalkeeper.

A minute later, Curran turned provider as he put an almost perfect cross into the box from the left, but Axel Bossekota’s outstretched leg could not reach the ball. The Belgian was coming into the game more and had a glorious chance on the stroke of half time.

Regarded as one of the quickest players in the league, when Bossekota slipped past Gareth Matthews on the half way line and bore down on goal, UCD fans could have been forgiven for fearing the worse. 

However Bossekota hadn’t reckoned on Mark Langtry’s pace though as the UCD defender caught up with him on the edge of the box forcing the Limerick attacker to check his run. The ball was squared to Galbraith who took a couple of touches before seeing his fierce shot parried by the impermeable O’Donnell.

The second half was played at a slower pace, but it was also more even. 

On 54 minutes, Robbie Benson flashed a shot wide of Limerick’s left post and two minutes later Langtry hit the ball with venom from distance, only to see his effort go harmlessly wide.

These passages of play should have served as a warning sign to Limerick, and they ultimately heralded the equaliser on 59 minutes. 

Gareth Matthews surged down the right hand wing and crossed the ball into the box to Benson. Benson appeared to be unmarked and received the ball on the penalty spot where he had time and the composure to take a touch around an out rushing defender and blast the ball past a hapless Shane Cusack.

With UCD growing into the game, Limerick had to up their game and that is what they did. A free kick from deep on 65 minutes found Bossekota inside the box. The Limerick number 10 took a touch, got the ball out from under his feet, and flashed a ferocious shot at the UCD goal. Man of the Match O’Donnell was not going to get beaten for the second time of the evening and he expertly tipped the ball around the post.

Five minutes later Stuart Taylor’s men again came close. Deep free kicks seemed to be the feature of the night, and it was another one for the visitors that almost brought about their second goal. On arrival into the box, Curran headed the ball across goal. A game of head tennis ensued before Pat Purcell flung himself at the ball and saw his diving header go narrowly wide.

A goal mouth scramble on 79 minutes was somehow cleared and it was Limerick who were now looking most like scoring and they almost did minutes later.

Limerick broke down the right and Bossekota sent in what was an inch perfect cross. The ball seemed to be set up perfectly for Curran, but it was not to be his night as he failed to make a decent connection and the ball hit his heel and spun away.

There was not to be any more goals in the game, but there was still time for one more talking point. As the game entered time added on, Colm Crowe caught Jeffrey Judge late and the referee blew his whistle for a free and a yellow card. 

Incensed by the foul, Judge sprang up and squared up to Crowe pressing his forehead into the UCD players. Perhaps not a full on headbutt, but still enough to warrant a red card especially as it had occurred in front of the referee. The sending off meant the visitors had to finish the game with nine men after Purcell was forced off minutes earlier.

The draw continues an impressive run of results for Martin Russell’s men, which has seen them collect ten points out of the last possible 15. Russell will perhaps be the happier manager as Stuart Taylor is left to rue the chances his side missed and curse the performance of Conor O’Donnell who kept UCD in the game on numerous occasions.

UCD: Conor O’Donnell; Gareth Matthews, Tomas Boyle (Gary Burke 46), David O’Connor, Mark Langtry; Dean Clarke, Robbie Creevy (Colm Crowe 32), James Kavanagh, Sean Russell; Robbie Benson, David McMillan.
Subs not used:  Mark McGinley (gk), Sean Coyne, Dinny Corcoran, Cillian Morrison, Thomas O’Halloran.

Booked: Dean Clarke (61), Colm Crowe (90), Axel Bossekota (90+4)

Limerick: Shane Cusack; Shaun Kelly (Shane Costelloe 49), Brian O’Callaghan (Pat Purcell 64), Stephen Folan, Shane Tracy; Dave O’Leary (Jeffrey Judge 77), Stephen Bradley, Val Feeney; Danny Galbraith, Craig Curran, Axel Bossekota.
Subs not used: Stephen Walsh (gk), Rory Gaffney, Darragh Rainsford, Patrick Nzuzi.

Booked: Craig Curran (61), Shane Costelloe (85).
Sent Off: Jeffrey Judge (90).

Referee: Derek Tomney.

Attendance: 253

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Conor O’Donnell (UCD).