Shamrock Rovers 2 - 2 UCD

• Ryan Bailey
• Tue, Aug 30 2011


Shamrock Rovers suffered a European headache when they were held to 2-2 draw by UCD in Monday evening’s FAI Ford Cup 4th round tie. The visitors came from two goals behind to force a replay after Karl Sheppard and Ciaran Kilduff had put Rovers in the driving seat.

In a first half of few goal mouth incidences, the home side inevitably dominated the possession but resolute defending from Mick Leahy and Dave O’Connor kept Rovers at bay. It was O’Connor who the Students had to thanks for keeping it scoreless after Kilduff’s header was cleared off the line by the centre half in the opening exchanges. Despite the score line at the break, Martin Russell’s side weren’t taking anything for granted especially after their recent League defeat in Tallaght.

Michael O’Neill’s men turned on the gas in the second period and they were rewarded when ex-Student Ronan Finn played in Sheppard and the former Galway man fired past Ger Barron on the hour mark. It was 2-0 minutes later when Kilduff powered in man of the moment Pat Sullivan’s cross. It seemed as if it was going to be a repeat of the League game between the sides but Martin Russell introduced the lively Samir Belhout to swing the game.

Darren Meenan found Belhout down the left and he fired a low shot past Ryan Thompson to make it 2-1 resulting in a nervy last quarter for the home side who were now struggling following last Thursday’s heroics. UCD had a spring in their step and when Rovers skipper for the evening Pat Flynn fouled Belhout just inside the home side’s half, he was shown his marching orders for being last man back. From the resulting free kick, UCD worked it left and Danny Ledwith’s cross found Robbie Creevy unmarked and his header nestled in the bottom corner.

Tallaght was in shock but the home side finished strongly and looked for the winner but couldn’t break down UCD’s defence. The replay will take place next Monday at the Belfield Bowl at 7.45pm

Shamrock Rovers: Ryan Thompson, Pat Sullivan, Jack Memery, Craig Sives, Pat Flynn (c), Stephen Rice, Stephen O’Donnell, Gary McCabe (Ronan Finn, 56’), Gary O’Neill (Chris Turner, 67’), Ciaran Kilduff, Karl Sheppard (Dan Murray, 81’)
Subs not used: Richard Brush,Sean Gannon, Gary Twigg, Billy Dennehy
Bookings: Ciaran Kilduff (62’)
Red Cards: Pat Flynn (80’)

UCD AFC: Ger Barron, Sean Harding, Daniel Ledwith, Dave O’Connor, Mick Leahy (c), Paul Corry (Samir Belhout, 71’), Paul O’Conor, Robbie Creevy, Darren Meenan, Robbie Benson (Dean Marshall, 56’), Graham Rusk
Subs not used: Thomas Boyle, James Kavanagh, Barry McCabe, Mark McGinley, Stephen Doyle
Bookings: Darren Meenan (44’), Daniel Ledwith (57’), Sean Harding (59’)

Referee: T Connolly

Attendance: 2,484

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Darren Meenan, he led the UCD line well throughout and played a superb ball for the match turning goal.