UCD 0 - 2 Sligo Rovers

• Conor McKeogh
• Wed, Jun 09 2010


Sligo Rovers overcame UCD in the Airtricity Premier Division at the Belfield Bowl on Tuesday night, scoring twice within the first minute of either half kicking off.

Padraig Amond and Gavin Peers got the goals, however, the result was overshadowed by two red cards in the last few minutes. Alan Keane saw red for his challenge on Chris Nangle in the 87th minute and Greg Bolger was given his marching orders in the 92nd minute for a rash tackle on Sligo 'keeper Richard Brush.

Only 50 seconds had elapsed and the visitors were in front. A quickly taken free kick by Joseph Ndo into the Students box was fumbled by keeper Billy Brennan. Danny Ventre took the ball down and his shot was met at the far post by Amond to steer the ball home.

The home side were shell shocked after conceding so early, and it took several minutes before the students finally arrived to play the game, Keith Ward and Ciaran Kilduff combining well forcing Brush to come out and smother the attack.

In the 17th minute Kilduff was again at the centre of the UCD attack laying the ball off for Greg Bolger whose shot was deflected just over the crossbar.

A quickly taken free kick for UCD was taken down on the edge of the area by Kilduff who tried to bring the ball around Brush but the keeper did very well to collect the ball and clear the danger. From the counter attack, Joseph Ndo pushed the ball left to John Dillon whose curling shot just missed the far upright.

Bolger's game was mixed even before his late sending off - in the 25th minute he gave the ball away outside his own box, Ndo passed out wide and Bolger had to recover well, clearing the ball to atone for his error.

Chris Mulhall was industrious for the home side on the right flank, beating left-back Iarfhlaith Davoren several times. In the 26th minute, his low cross was met by Keith Ward and his shot sailed over the goal.

Even though UCD were creating chances, their play was too often in front of the Sligo defence with only speculative efforts at goal. When Sligo pushed forward, it was with conviction and appeared that if another goal was coming, it would be for the away side.

One minute after the restart, this proved to be the case as it became two nil. An early corner by Ndo was met on the six yard line by centre half Gavin Peers who headed home with aplomb for his second goal of the campaign.

This was the last thing The Students needed; after conceding early in the first half, manager Martin Russell would have had a few choice words to his defence for not switching on early enough. Another early goal effectively killed the game as UCD had been foiled by their own lack of concentration.

The home side came close to getting back in the match when a Chris Mulhall corner looped over to the far post and was met by captain Evan McMillan's header but the ball crashed off the corner of the upright, saving Brush's blushes.

After a snapshot by Brian Shorthall in the 73rd minute, chances in the game dried up. It was over as a contest and this led to rash challenges and a tense atmosphere in the closing stages.

It was obvious that the students were not happy with the roughness of some Sligo tackles and the tension built up until the 87th minute when Keane went over the ball and scythed down Nangle in the UCD half.

Referee Declan Hanney had no alternative but to dish out a straight red and five minutes later he flashed a second as Bolger, after breaking down the left wing and getting in behind the Rovers defence, jumped in on keeper Brush after the ball escaped his touch. Brush's reaction earned him a yellow card, however what appeared to be a kick at Bolger as he lay on the ground by a Sligo assailant went unpunished.

It was a disappointing end to a match which UCD could have got something out of, but for their failure to start as brightly and efficiently as Paul Cook's men did.

UCD: Brennan, Harding (Shorthall '55), Nangle (Wilson '88), Boyle, E McMillan, Bolger, Ward (Rusk '55), Corry, Kilduff, Mulhall, D McMillan.
Subs not used; Creevy, McGinlay.

Sligo Rovers: Brush, Keane, Davoren, Peers, Ventre, Ryan, Dillon, Russell (O'Grady '75), Amond (Whelan '88), Ndo, Doyle (McCabe '61).
Subs not used; Donninger, Kelly.

Referee: Declan Hanney.

Attendance: 394


extratime.ie man of the match: John Dillon.