League Report: UCD 1 - 1 Treaty United

Andrew Dempsey reports from the UCD Bowl

Eanna Clancy salvaged a point for ten-man UCD at home to Treaty United on Friday night. 

Former Sligo Rovers youth Clancy headed home on the hour for the Students after Mark Byrne handed Treaty a first-half lead. 

But the Sky Blues finished the game with a player less after Alex Dunne was dismissed for a second yellow in the 72nd minute. 

The Shannonsiders remain eighth and are seven points behind fifth-placed Bray Wanderers. UCD stay third and are now on 37 points. 

Without the absent Ciaran Behan, UCD made one change from their defeat at home to Athlone Town last weekend with Colin Bolton drafted into the starting XI. 

Their opponents Treaty United, also off the back of a narrow defeat last week to Cobh Ramblers, too made a solitary swap to their side with Enda Curran dropping out in favour of Thomas Considine. 

And it was the visitors to Belfield who had the first chance of note in the game when Byrne headed wide at the back post after meeting a corner-kick. 

With winger Mikey McCullagh lively, the Students grew into proceedings and created an opening of their own via their winger, but Bolton’s effort at Corey Chambers near post was parried away for a corner-kick. 

Although that was as good as it got in terms of entertainment value before Treaty United seized the initiative before the half-time break. 

Lee Devitt - making his 100th appearance for the Shannonsiders - forced a routine save for Students netminder Kian Moore just past the half hour mark. 

Considine, playing on the left for Tommy Barrett’s troops, then went close as he dinked an effort over Moore and just wide of the goal after being played in by a superb ball from Galway United loanee Steven Healy. 

But Treaty did not have long to wait before breaking the deadlock when Byrne pounced in the 41st minute after a calamitous mistake from the UCD defence. 

A goal-kick from Chambers was partially cleared by Niall Holohan in the hosts defence and looked as if the danger was cleared. 

Trio Moore, Eanna Clancy and Adam Wells failed to pick up on the loose ball - allowing Byrne the easiest of opportunities to cut inside and fire the ball into an empty net. 

And it could have got worse for the hosts when Stephen Christopher forced a smart save from Moore with a wicked effort on the edge of the box as Treaty went in one up at the interval.

But UCD reacted well after the break and equalised on the hour mark through defender Clancy.

Clancy thumped a header into the net after meeting a fine delivery from McCullagh - much to the relief of boss Willie O’Connor who must have been concerned with his side’s finish to the first half.

The game was turned on its head with just 20 minutes to play when Students full-back Dunne was dismissed for a second booking after hauling down Considine.

UCD were then caught napping when playing out from the back and almost gave away a second when Devitt curled an effort off the top of the crossbar.

Substitute Lee J Lynch also threatened from distance for the visitors but his effort was well saved by Moore in between the sticks for the Students. 

Devitt then trickled an effort wide for the Shannonsiders but that was as good as it got for the Shannonsiders as they were denied by a resolute UCD defence. 

Doyle even had an opportunity for the hosts late on after some good link-up play with McCullagh but his effort was well held by Chambers as the game ended in a draw. 

It is UCD’s seventh stalemate in their last 10 league outings but they will likely be pleased with it in the circumstances. 

UCD:Kian Moore; Éanna Clancy, Alex Dunne, Niall Holohan, Adam Wells (Donal Higgins 46); Colin Bolton, Jake Doyle, Mikey McCullagh, Luke O'Regan, Adam Verdon (Cathal McCarthy 89); Michael Raggett (Hugh Parker 60).

Subs not used:Dara Kavanagh, Kyle Donoghue, Sean Mackey, Adam Brennan, Sam Norval, Danú Kinsella-Bishop.

Booked:Niall Holohan (50), Alex Dunne (56 & 72).

Sent off:Alex Dunne (72).

Treaty United:Corey Chambers; Fionn Doherty (Oisín O'Reilly 87), Robbie Lynch, Evan O'Connor, Ben O'Riordan; Mark Byrne, Stephen Christopher, Thomas Considine (Trpimir Vrljicak 83), Lee Devitt Molloy, Steven Healy (Lee-J Lynch 67); Yousef Mahdy (Enda Curran 67).

Subs not used:Michael Dike, Darren Nwankwo, Scott Kirkland, Alec Byrne, Leon Kirrane.

Booked:Fionn Doherty (19).

Sent off:None.

Referee:Declan Toland.

Attendance:314.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Eanna Clancy (UCD).