League Report: UCD 2 - 3 Limerick

Limerick clinched the First Division title in style at the Belfield Bowl on Sunday evening with a convincing 3-2 victory in what was a very entertaining game. Two goals from ex-Student Paul O'Connor and a first-half strike from John O'Flynn were enough to ensure Limerick went home as league champions with six games still to play.

Even before the game began, there was a genuine feeling that this was the day Limerick would earn themselves the title. A single point was all that was needed, and the Limerick fans travelled in numbers to Belfield to see their team do the business. They were busy singing that they were champions before the game even kicked off and barely stopped singing through the game.

UCD started the game brightly and began passing the ball around from the back. It took Limerick a while before they effectively pressed and harrassed UCD on the ball, but at that stage UCD were already finding space. Gary O'Neill, Jack Watson and Greg Sloggett were working well in midfield. Both McClelland and Marty Waters looked dangerous too and it was the latter who was to give UCD the lead.

The goal came from Watson picking the ball up in space just inside the Limerick half in midfield. He came forward and spotted the run of Ryan Swan to his left. He played the ball through, Swan ran onto it and from the byline, he dinked the ball to the back post. Waters was waiting there unmarked and was able to head it back towards goal and into the far corner, with Hall rooted to the line.

The Students lead didn't last long however. It was only four minutes old when Limerick struck back. A long ball forward was controlled by O'Flynn but hit Collins and deflected kindly into the path of O'Flynn who had continued his run towards goal. One on one with Corbet, he composed himself and placed the ball firmly into the bottom right corner – O'Flynn's twelvth goal of the season justifying his selection.

Straight from the kick-off, UCD attacked and Jack Watson got himself free into space down the right wing. He crossed the ball into the box where Ryan Swan rose above the commanding Paudie O'Connor to direct a header goalwards. Unfortunately for the UCD striker it went narrowly wide.

Minutes later there was a lucky escape for UCD. A Sean Russell cross from the left wing found Corbet flapping at thin air. The ball came down and deflected off Collins and almost fell into the path of the Limerick attack with an open goal glaring. But thankfully for the Students the deflection fell into the hands of Corbet on the ground.

Limerick finished the half the stronger as they controlled possession quite well, with Shane Duggan and Lee-J Lynch looking sharp on the ball. Mullally blew his whistle right on the 45^th minute and Limerick were halfway towards the league title.

Martin Russell made a tactical change at half time, as he took off the goalscorer John O'Flynn and brought on ex-Student Chris Mulhall. The change and the half-time seemed to energise Limerick, who came out of the blocks the better team, although UCD had the first meaningful chance with captain O'Neill seeing a low shot tipped around the post for a corner.

However, with the second half only ten minutes old, Limerick took the lead for the first time in the game. Stephen Kenny did really well to evade the challenge of makeshift left full-back Liam Scales before crossing low into the box. O'Conor made a run in from midfield and tapped the ball home from inside the six yard box.

Limerick's lead was short-lived however, as it lasted all of two minutes. UCD won a corner and Jason McClelland crossed an inswinging ball into the box. Maxi Kouogun towered above the Limerick defence and headed the ball home. The tie that had averaged five goals a game in the three previous games was living up to its bill once again.

UCD were beginning to look a bit shaky in defence, with Liam Scales especially being terrorised by Stephen Kenny on the right wing. He was soon to be booked as he struggled to cope with Kenny's pace. A mistake by Josh Collins a few minutes later was almost punished upon as Lee J Lynch picked up on the ball, drove into the box and shot narrowly wide across goal.

Limerick weren't without their own mishaps however, and one that came from Paudie O'Connor almost led to a third UCD goal. His mis-control gave the ball to Gary O'Neill and he passed the ball to the unmarked Watson on the edge of the box. With lots of time, he tried to compose himself but Williams came across just in time to block his shot.

The game ebbed and flowed as both teams seemed an even match for each other, before the fifth and final goal of the game came. A ball into the box was poorly defended by UCD as Maxi Kouogun failed to clear it properly. The attack continued and Shaun Kelly received the ball on the right flank. He managed to get by Scales using his strength and into the box before playing a low cross into the six yard box. Once again, O'Conor was there to tap home, almost a carbon copy of his first goal. Limerick had the lead again and this time they were intent on keeping it.

Limerick began to sit back while UCD unloaded their bench. Both Georgie Kelly and Jason Byrne came off the bench, but it was the former who had the best chance to equalise when in the penultimate minute of normal time he hit a volley from outside the box with his laces after a knock down from Swan. It seemed destined for the net as it looped towards the goal, but the back-pedaling Hall was just able to touch it over the bar for a corner.

At this stage, Limerick's fate was clear and the strong away following were singing loudly in celebration about not just the result but also the brilliant season Limerick have had. Limerick comfortably played out the game as they passed the ball around like champions, and on the final whistle there was an anticipated pitch invasion. Not even the small army of stewards could stop the celebrations. Limerick were deserving of their victory on the day and are certainly deserving champions of the league. UCD played well and certainly gave Limerick a good test, but Limerick's experience and habit of winning was once again the difference against the Students.

UCD: Niall Corbet; Mark Langtry, Liam Scales, Josh Collins, Maxi Kouogun; Greg Sloggett, Kieran 'Marty' Waters (Jason Byrne 90), Gary O'Neill, Jack Watson (Georgie Kelly 81), Jason McClelland (Daire O'Connor 73); Ryan Swan.

Subs Not Used: Karl Skinner, Sean Coyne, Daniel Tobin, Jack Ryan.

Booked: Liam Scales (59).

Limerick: Freddy Hall; Shaun Kelly (Garbhan Coughlan 84), Shane Tracy, Robbie Williams, Paudie O'Connor; Paul O'Conor, Lee J Lynch, Shane Duggan, Sean Russell (Aaron Greene 61), Stephen Kenny; John O'Flynn (Chris Mulhall 46).

Subs Not Used: Tommy Holland, Colm Murphy, Tony Whitehead, Ross Mann.

Booked: Paudie O'Connor (75).

Referee: Andrew Mullally

Attendance: 457

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Paul O'Conor.

You can see Laszlo Geczo's photos from the game here.