UCD 3 - 2 Monaghan United

It was a second home win of the season for UCD on Friday night as they won by the odd goal in five. A goalless first half was quickly forgot as the 244 spectators were treated to a second half goal fest culminating in a Jordan Keegan wondergoal.

It wasn’t until the 12^th minute that we saw the game’s first real chance. Good work from Robert Bayly up the wing saw him play a neat one-two with Jordan Keegan, and the Monaghan captain took aim at the UCD goal, only to see his shot go over and wide.

The sides exchanged wayward shots with both keepers having little to do until the 23^rd minute when Alan Byrne threw himself at a Monaghan corner, only to see Mark McGinley parry the ball and the UCD defence clear it.

Monaghan continued to press and a minute later Robert Bayly flashed a right-footed shot just wide of the UCD goal with McGinley struggling to get across.

With Monaghan looking increasingly like getting the opener, it was UCD who came close next on the half hour mark. Danny Ledwith found himself with a sight of goal 25 yards out, and he shot low and hard but the ball flew just past Bennion’s bottom right corner.

That Ledwith effort was to signal a revival of sorts from UCD and their next effort was to be another shot from distance. Graham Rusk collected the ball 25 yards out and let fly with a fierce right footed shot in the 33^rd minute. The faintest of fingertip touches from Bennion was enough to see the ball onto his left hand post.

The second half started at a frantic pace with Monaghan again pressing. The impressive Jordan Keegan was instrumental in all that was good for Monaghan, and on the 47^th he nearly made the breakthrough with a strike from distance which was well saved.

The game’s opener finally came in the 51^st minute and it was the home team who were to celebrate. UCD broke through the centre and ball found its way to Robbie Benson at the edge of box. The UCD number 10 pulled the ball back to Danny Ledwith, and the midfielder unleashed a rasping right footed shot which beat Bennion and went in off the post.

The lead was to last 14 minutes before Monaghan restored parity with a goal their efforts deserved. A Roddy Collins cross from deep on the right brought McGinley off his line. The UCD goalkeeper’s punch was weak and only got as far as Keegan. The Monaghan winger then dinked the ball over the stranded McGinley, and Conor Murpy was on hand to head into an empty net.

The game continued to be played in an open manner as both sides pressed for the lead. Dean Clarke came off the bench for UCD and looked lively from off. Good work from the UCD substitute saw the ball come out to Langtry on the left hand touch line. The UCD full back sent in a cross, and an ineffectual clearance saw Cillian Morrison collect the ball inside the box. The young striker showed composure before shooting into the top corner of the net, although he has a heavy deflection to thank for helping wrong-foot the keeper to give The Students an 80^th minute lead.

Rather than resting on their laurels, it was UCD who were to score again and stretch their lead in the 88^th minute. A cross came in from the right, and a fluffed header saw the ball come to Paul O’Conor. One on one with the keeper, the UCD midfielder poked the ball past Bennion at his near point to effectively seal the points for the Dublin side.

Jordan Keegan gave Martin Russell’s men a late scare in the 91^st minute when his thundering right-footed shot bolted past McGinley nestling in the UCD net – but it was to prove too little too late and UCD came away with all three points.

It was no doubt a welcome win for UCD as they now look forward to a Good Friday trip away to Derry. For Roddy Collins, it was a case of what could have been as his team played some good football but were again beaten by a single goal. Next Friday sees some familiar faces at Drogheda come to Gortakeegan, as Collins continues to look for their first win of the season.

UCD: Mark McGinley; Hugh Douglas, Ciaran Nangle (Mark Langtry, 77), James Kavanagh, David O’Connor; Danny Ledwith, Paul O’Conor, Chris Mulhall (Michael Leahy, 77), Robbie Benson; Graham Rusk (Dean Clarke, 67), Cilliam Morrison.

Subs not used: Niall Corbett, Chris Lyons, Barry McCabe, Stephen Doyle.

Booked: D Ledwith (67), D O'Connor (70).

Monaghan United: Chris Bennion; Stephen Maher, Aidan Collins, Alan Byrne, Conor McMahon (Jason Marks, 67); Jordan Keegan, Roddy Collins (Michael Isichei, 85), Robert Bayly, Garreth O’Connor; Conor Murphy, Owen Humphrey (Tony Griffiths, 60).

Subs not used: Michael Schlingermann, Keith Quinn, Darragh Reynor, David Crosbie.

Booked: G O’Connor (67).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.

Attendance: 244.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Jordan Keegan.