League Report: UCD 2 - 2 Drogheda United

Two equally matched sides, in terms of play and mistakes, played out a 2-2 draw as UCD and Drogheda United couldn't be separated at the UCD Bowl.

The Students were pegged back twice as Drogheda United got equalizers through Eoin Kirwan and Sam O’Connor in between a free kick from Gary O’Neill, after Ryan Swan had opened the scoring early on for the Students.

After an opening ten minutes of not too much happening, UCD managed to go in front through Swan. Dylan Watts did well to demand the ball from the defence before bringing it forward towards the opposition box.

A one-two with Ryan Swan followed before Watts slide a pass through the Drogheda defence and into Swan’s feet. The striker took a touch before slotting the ball past the diving Stephen McGuinness for his first goal of the season.

Swan nearly had a chance to double UCD’s advantage just after the 20-minute mark but McGuinness was quick to claim Waters’ inside pass.

It was a chance soon to be rued as Drogheda United equalized with their next attack. Good passing play in midfield saw the ball worked out to Adam Wixted and he cut inside to cross to the back stick.

Sean Brennan was lurking there and his downward header was well saved by Niall Corbet but the goalkeeper could do nothing to stop Kirwan tapping home and bringing Drogheda United level.

The Louth side upped their game after the goal and after Brian Shortall was adjudged to have impeded the striker outside of the area, Corbet had to be alert to pull off a good save to deny Wixted from the freekick.

After a spell under pressure, UCD nearly got back in front as Niall Cooney had a moment of calamity when he took a heavy touch with Swan near him. The UCD frontman stole onto the ball but was caught by the lunging defender.

UCD weren’t to be denied though as Gary O’Neill stepped up to take the resultant freekick and his attempt took a huge deflection, leaving McGuinness wrong footed as it nestled in the back of the net.

Drogs came back to try and get back into the game and, after an inswinging freekick from Sean Brennan was headed out by Shortall, Corbet had to make a great one handed save to deny Jake Hyland’s header from Wixted’s resulting corner.

Yet they were to be level before halftime as Sean Brennan picked the pocket of Maxi Kouogun as he tried to play the ball out from the back. The midfielder’s pass found Sam O’Connor in acres of space and the target man slammed the ball home to equalize.

In the second half, UCD once more had the front foot as Waters swung in an inviting cross into the box, however no one gambled on sticking their head on it and the chance was lost.

Soon after, Waters decided he couldn’t rely on help these days so had a pop at goal instead, with McGuinness just about tapping over his bar.

Brennan then narrowly shot a freekick wide with Corbet scrambling just before seventy minutes.

Wixted then showed his skills as he pirouetted past two defenders before switching a cross to the edge of the box. Kirwan met the ball on the volley but his chance was blocked away.

UCD were next to have a chance as Watts made a marauding run into the box, yet his shot from a close-angle was easily blocked.

Swan’s shot from the edge of the box looked to ripple the back of the net. It took a save from McGuinness, and possibly the post too, to see ball stay out.

Four minutes of added time beckoned for one side to take all three points, with Swan just missing Daire O’Connor’s cross in the additional time, but it wasn’t to be as the game came to its conclusion with two goals apiece.

UCD: Niall Corbet; Alan Harney, Brian Shortall (Tomás Boyle 45), Maxi Kouogun, Mark Langtry; Daire O’Connor, Greg Sloggett (Georgie Kelly 70), Gary O’Neill, Dylan Watts, Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters (Jason McClelland 62); Ryan Swan.

Subs not used: Conor O’Donnell, Daniel Tobin, Sean Coyne, Rob Manley.

Booked: Brian Shortall, Maxi Kouogun.

Drogheda United: Stephen McGuinness; Colm Deasy, Niall Cooney, Luke Gallagher, Stephen Dunne; Adam Wixted (Derek Doyle 90+2), Sean Brennan, Aaron Molloy, Jake Hyland, Eoin Kirwan (Aaron Ashe 81); Sam O’Connor (Marc Griffin 82).

Subs not used: Derek Doyle, Joseph Jackson, Patrick Dunican, Liam Donnelly, Lloyd Buckley.

Booked: Sam O’Connor, Niall Cooney.

Referee: Michael Connolly.

Attendance: 300 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Dylan Watts (UCD).

You can view Larry McQuillan's pictures from the game by clicking here.