League Report: Cabinteely FC 0 - 2 UCD

UCD recorded their second victory of the season thanks to a brace of goals from Chris Mulhall as they comfortably dispatched Cabinteely 2-0 in Stradbrook on Friday night.

The Students had previously gone five games without a league win and found themselves behind their hosts in the SSE Airtricity League First Division before kick-off. UCD quickly went about amending this when Chris Mulhall opened the scoring in the 3^rd minute with a low shot struck across the onrushing Evan Whelan.

Cabo grew into the game and will be annoyed that no one was on the end of an inviting free-kick that floated across the six yard box. Cabinteely had another chance thanks to a crafty piece of skill by Jordan Buckley, who managed to carve out a clear path on goal, but his work went unrewarded as the Students’ defence scampered back and reclaimed possession.

It was then UCD’s turn to attack when, in the 20^th minute, Jamie Doyle capitalised on a sliced clearance by the Cabinteely defence but could only drag his effort past the wrong side of the post. Doyle squandered another opportunity as he struck a shot from just inside the UCD box, again however, pushing it wide of the target. Cabo would have felt unlucky to be behind at the break as both sides had chances in the first half but The Students were quickest out of the dressing rooms and still maintained their early lead.

Not long after the restart Chris Mulhall added another to his tally for the night and doubled his side’s lead. In the 47^th minute he reacted fastest at the back post to head in an inch perfect Adam Harney cross. Despite Whelan’s best efforts in the Cabo goal, the referee, Andrew Mullally, judged that the ball had crossed the line and the lack of protest from the Cabinteely defenders suggests that he made the right decision.

The Stradbrook pitch was less than conducive to free flowing football and the scrappy next 20 minutes reflected this with little in the way of goal scoring opportunities until Gary O’Neill, Conor Cannon and Chris Mulhall all had half-chances in quick succession that the Cabo defence managed to avert.

Substitute Eoin Kirwan sent a wayward chance high over Evan Whelan’s bar before a succession of free kicks resulted in Cabo captain Robert Maloney being shown a second yellow by Mullally.

UCD looked comfortable and threatened the Cabo goal again as Gary O’Neill sent a low free-kick straight at Whelan, moments later a rasping Jamie Doyle volley was also parried by the goalkeeper.

The College saw out the reminder of the game with relative ease and will be hopeful of three points in their next fixture at home to Waterford. Meanwhile, Cabinteely will need to tighten up their defence and create more goal scoring opportunities if they are to continue to pick up points this season.

Cabinteely FC: Evan Whelan; Daniel Campbell, Robert Maloney, Victor Ekranem (Lloyd Cairns 57), Jamie McGlynn; Evan Finnegan, Jordan Buckley (Jamie Broderick 84), John McKeown, Kevin Knight; Gerald Pender, Shane O’Neill (Bobinel Mazono 90).
Subs Not Used: Aaron Brilly, Conor Foley, Gavin Fahy, Sean Hyland.

Booked: S O'Neill (23), Maloney (30), G. Pender (60), Maloney (79).
Sent Off: Maloney (79).

UCD: Niall Corbet; Daniel Tobin, Maxim Kougoun, Adam Harney, Mark Langtry; Chris Mulhall, Gary O’Neill, Robert Benson (Jack Watson 86), Ryan Swan (Samir Belhout 90+2), Jamie Doyle; Conor Cannon (Eoin Kirwan 69).
Subs Not Used: Karl Skinner (gk), Sean Coyne, Dylan Watts.

Booked: None

Referee: Andrew Mullally

Attendance: 800 (estimate)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Chris Mulhall (UCD)