League Report: Shelbourne 2 - 1 UCD

Eoin Smith was in attendance at this one to snap away at the best of the action with his camera.

UCD suffered a first league defeat since March 27th after goals from Philip Hughes and James English ensured the visitors seventeen game unbeaten run came to an end at Tolka Park on Friday evening.

Shelbourne started Friday’s clash brightest after a delayed start due to refereeing problems – Rob Rogers eventually took charge with David Keeler forced to pull out through injury – but it was Robbie Benson with the games’ first effort when his header off a Gary O’Neill corner was gathered by Greg Murray in the Shelbourne goal.

Despite having the first effort on goal, the visiting side would then struggle to find their feet in the game and the home side would have the games next few opportunities - first Philip Hughes fired wide from the edge of the box, before Dylan McGlade would break down the left wing before cutting inside, his ball across the box being cleared for a corner.

Craig Walsh was the latest to trouble Niall Corbet when his looping header from the edge of the box was gathered by the keeper.

As Shels continued to push for the game’s opening, up popped Hughes for the home side to open the scoring, after Tomas Boyle attempted to chest the ball down it fell to Hughes who toe poked home from close range.

Moments after the opening goal, Benson then had a great effort to equalise after an O’Neill corner from the left - the ball fell to the Students skipper would could only guide his effort wide from close range.

Less than five minutes after taking the lead, James English doubled the home side’s advantage after his low shot from the edge of the box was spilled under Niall Corbet as the keeper attempted to gather possession.

When the sides emerged from their half-time team talk, Collie O’Neill’s magic appeared to have worked as one of his changes at the interval, in the form of substitute Daire O’Connor, had an instinct impact after a low delivery from Chris Mulhall found O’Connor on the edge of the box and he turned a fired a low shot that collided with the post before crossing the line to give the Students hope of a revival.

Despite pulling a goal back, UCD was forced to call upon their shot stopper Corbet to deny English from close range after a brilliant knock down from Hughes at the far post.

Moments after English’s effort the forward was again pivotal to the action after his shot from the edge of the box forced a stop from the away side’s keeper. O’Neill ensured the game was not a one sided affair when he forced a stop from Murray after cutting in from the left.

O’Neill again had the chance to test Murray but his dangerous free-kick from the left edge of the box sailed harmlessly wide. As the game continued to open, Daire Doyle latched onto a bouncing ball and his volley from the edge of the D sailed harmlessly wide.

With the game continuing to ebb and flow, Corbet was forced to punch away a brilliant delivery from Coughlan before UCD then broke, but as Benson was about to pull the trigger from just outside the penalty spot a last ditch Sean Heaney challenge forced possession away for a corner.

With the game approaching the final ten minutes, UCD continued to push for an equaliser that would extend their unbeaten run to eighteen, Mulhall first saw his effort from the edge of the box blocked before moments later a dangerous free-kick from Benson was cleared by the Shels defence after no UCD player gambled on the delivery.

Deep into injury time, Swan had a great opportunity to grab a point for the Students after a lovely ball from O’Connor from the right found Swan, who blasted over from close range to the disbelief of the travelling supporters, and much to the relief of Kevin Doherty and the home crowd.

Shelbourne: Greg Murray, Adam O’Connor, Ryan Robinson, Sean Heaney, Alan Kehoe (Evan Osam 69), Gareth Coughlan, Daire Doyle, Craig Walsh (Colm Crowe 83), Dylan McGlade, Philip Hughes Mark Sandford (86), James English.

Subs Not Used: Jack Brady, Carl Walshe, Jake Donnelly, Darragh Gannon.

Booked: Robinson (60), Walsh (77), Murray (90+1).

UCD: Niall Corbet, Michael Leahy, Tomas Boyle, Ryan McLaughlin, Mark Langtry (Daire O’Connor 46), Chris Mulhall, Gary O’Neill, Robbie Benson, Dylan Watts Conor Cannon (88), Jack Watson (Jamie Doyle 46), Ryan Swan.

Subs Not Used: Conor Mackey, Sean Coyle, Eoin Kirwan, Max Kouogun.

Booked: Watts (72), Swan (77).

Referee: Robert Rogers.

Attendance: 732.

Extratime Man of the Match: Philip Hughes (Shelbourne).