League Report: Cabinteely 0 - 2 UCD

UCD reinforced their grip on second place in the SSE Airtricity League First Division with a relatively straightforward victory over Cabinteely at Stradbrook.

UCD dominated the possession stakes all through and had most of the game’s best chances.  Jack Watson headed just wide from a left wing cross on 10 minutes. But the lead goal wasn’t long in arriving. After some Cabinteely hesitancy in defence, Ryan Swan set -up Gary O’Neill and the midfielder side footed the ball home from 10 yards out.

Tomas Boyle’s back header led to an easy save for Jack Menton on 18 minutes. A floated left wing free kick led to UCD’s next opportunity but neither Tomas Boyle or Jack Watson could get a decisive touch and the ball squirmed wide.  The influential Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters put Swan through in the 38^th minute but Menton made a smart save from Swan’s right footed drive.

Cabinteely’s only first half effort on goal came in the 11^th minute.  Maxi Kouogun fouled Joe Doyle (earning a yellow card in the process). Ben Hanrahan’s free-kick was blocked and he volleyed the rebound way over. Paul Fox, who was lively on the left for Cabo without finding an end product, did force the first corner of the match but it came to nothing.

O’Neill and Mark Langtry had opportunities before the break but UCD ended the half well on top.

Cabinteely had three shots blocked in rapid succession in the first minute of the second half but that was pretty much as good as it got for the home side. Shane Boyle did go close with a shot from the edge of the box. Doyle and Hanrahan did have two late shots blocked. Swan fired over for UCD on 52 minutes and College continued to dominate.

Veteran substitute Jason Byrne finally secured UCD’s second goal on 82 minutes when he poked the ball home from close range after Menton had parried his initial effort. O’Neill might have made it three with a free kick late on but Menton pushed his shot over the bar.

Cabinteely put up dogged resistance and Hamzat’s introduction did improve matters somewhat after the interval but there was no denying UCD’s sixth away League win of the season.

The Students have picked-up ten points in their four 2016 encounters with Cabinteely.

Cabinteely: Jack Menton; Adam Maher (Carl Byrne,80), Oscar Brennan, Andrew McGovern, Lee Mitchell; Evan Galvin (Ollie Hamzat 45), Shane Boyle, Aaran Brilly; Joe Doyle, Ben Hanrahan, Paul Fox.

Subs not Used: Michael Kelly (gk), Victor Ekanem, Mark Slater, Gavin Howard, Aji Sule.

Booked: None.

UCD: Niall Corbet; Mark Langtry, Tomas Boyle, (Josh Collins, 82), Maxi Kouogun, Liam Scales; Greg Sloggett, Kieran 'Marty' Waters (Georgie Kelly, 67), Gary O'Neill, Jack Watson (Jason Byrne, 67), Cathal Brady; Ryan Swan.

Subs Not Used: Karl Skinner, Sean Coyne, Jason McLelland, Daire O'Connor.

Booked: Kouogun (14).

Referee: Simon Rogers

Attendance: 250 (estimate)

Man of the Match: Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters (UCD).