St. Patrick's Athletic 2 - 1 UCD.
Credit:
St. Patrick's Athletic booked their place in the next round of the EA Sports Cup after an entertaining 2-1 victory over UCD at Inchicore on Monday afternoon. Goals from Sean O'Connor and Ian Daly sealed the victory for Liam Buckley's side.
Martin Russel's side pressed the home team high up the pitch from the start and this led to a number of chances for the visitors. The best of these fell to Graham Rusk in teh 37th minute. Barry McCabe played a lovely reverse ball to Rusk, who hit an excellent shot from the left edge of the area that Pats goalkeeper Barry Murphy brilliantly tipped around the post.
However it was Pats who took the lead in the 44th minute. Sean O'Connor, who hit the crossbar just a minute earlier, made the breakthrough. After Ian Daly's shot was blocked the ball fell to the their number 11 in the area and he cooly slotted it past McGinley to give Liam Buckley's side a half time lead.
After a slow start to the second half, the home team went 2-0 up on the in the 58th minute. UCD centre back Hugh Douglas gave the ball away to Dean Kelly. Kelly played it to Greg Bolger on the left and he pulled it back to the onrushing Ian Daly, who had the simple task of finishing it off from six yards out.
Langtry volleyed wide for the visitors in the 67th minute, and substitute Dean Clarke saw his effort go just wide four minutes later.
However they did pull a goal back in the 83rd minute. Substitute Chris Lyons found himself through on goal after a poor Kenny Browne header. Lyons didn't hesitate and finished cooly past Barry Murphy.
Russel's side had only one effort after that though but captain Paul O'Connor's effort was straight at Murphy. The Students had a couple of late free kicks which the home defence dealt with. It was a hard fougt contest that could have gone either way. However Saint Pats should the importance of taking your chances.
St. Patrick's Athletic: Barry Murphy; Ger O'Brien (James Chambers 66), Pat Flynn, Conor Kenna (Kenny Browne 46), Ian Bermingham (Greg Bolger 46); Jake Carroll, Mark Rossiter, Sean O'Connor, Darren Meenan; Ian Daly, Dean Kelly.
Subs Not Used: Christy Fagan, Jake Kelly, Brendan Clarke, Kevin Farragher.
Booked: Jake Carroll (65), Darren Meenan (83), Sean O'Connor (89).
UCD: Mark McGinley; Hugh Douglas, Mark Langtry, James Kavanagh, Ciaran Nangle; Gary Burke (Chris Lyons 46), Stephen Doyle (David O'Connor 61), Barry McCabe, Paul O'Conor (captain), Robert Benson (Dean Clarke 61); Graham Rusk.
Subs Not Used: Niall Corbett, Tom O'Halloran, Samir Belhout, Cillian Morrison.
Booked: None.
Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford).
Attendance: 500 (estimate)
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Sean O'Connor (St Patrick's Athletic).
