UCD 0 - 2 Bohemians

• Niall Farrell
• Fri, Apr 08 2011




Bohemians came away from the UCD Bowl with a comfortable victory with goals from Owen Heary and Anto Flood sealing the win over a poor College side.

Captain Owen Heary opened the scoring for Bohs with a header just before half time and Flood doubled the lead late on after a defensive error allowed him to break away from the UCD defence.

Bohs had the first clear chance after 14 minutes following a succession of Killian Brennan corners. After the third wasn't cleared away, the ball fell for Anto Flood whose shot looked destined for the top corner. Ger Barron produced a fine acrobatic save to deny the Gypsies striker.

The Students had a lot of good play but their passing was well below the standard required. Again and again their moves would fall apart in the Bohs half mainly due to wayward passing. Bohemians, on the other hand, made use of their possession well playing direct balls up to Anto Flood who held the ball up superbly. It was the away side who had the best chances in the first half, with Flood flicking on a Brennan free-kick on 31 minutes straight into the arms of Ger Barron in the College goal.

Minutes later Stephen Traynor went agonisingly close for the Gypsies. The youngster shot just wide with Bohs on the counter attack, after dinking the ball over a diving Ger Barron. Keith Buckley fed the ball to Traynor out wide after some excellent hold-up play from ex Shels striker Flood. Bohs stepped up their pressure on the home side after that miss, and finally took the lead on the stroke of half time.

Killian Brennan swung Bohs' seventh corner of the half out to the far post, where Owen Heary was waiting. The Bohs captain headed the ball off the crossbar and in to open the scoring for the visiting side.

UCD had a solid start to the second half Graham Rusk shooting narrowly over from 35 yards out after Paul Corry won the ball in midfield.

Anto Flood stood out for Bohs in the second half when UCD had held possession. The former Shels and Galway forward was a constant nuisance to the Students, chasing down defenders when he didn't have the ball and holding it up superbly when he did. Paul Corry played a comparable role for UCD, putting pressure on the Bohs midfield and winning it before passing it on.

Another standout player was Killian Brennan for Bohs who proved particularly problematic for UCD from set pieces. He forced another brilliant save from Ger Barron after an hour of play with a rasping strike from a 25-yard free-kick. Brennan, along with teammates Stephen Traynor and Keith Buckley, was a constant trouble to College down the wing. Flood's hold-up play was consistently good and it was his layoff that set up substitute Robert Bayly for a shot on goal on 69 minutes, but it was straight into the arms of Ger Barron.

A minute later UCD were let off the hook, as Stephen Traynor was released one-on-one on goal. Ger Barron rushed out, but his awkward clearance was sliced. Luckily for College, Thomas Boyle was able to clear the ball hurriedly away. UCD again had a lot of the ball in the final quarter of the match, but suffered for their over-passing again on 80 minutes.

After a UCD attack, the ball was hoofed clear by a Bohs defender and Yael Haro slipped to allow Anto Flood run on with the ball. Flood was able to hold off Thomas Boyle and ran 25 yards before slotting the ball easily past Barron. The Gypsies were content to keep hold of the ball and counter-attack when UCD probed into their half in the closing minutes.

College substitute Samir Belhout spurned one of his side's best chances (and one of their only shots on target), shooting into the side netting on 90 minutes- despite facing an off-his-line Chris O'Connor in goal for Bohs. The Northsiders then saw out the three minutes stoppage time to come away comfortable 2-0 winners.

UCD: Ger Barron; Paul O'Conor, Ciaran Nangle, Yael Haro, Mick Leahy; Paul Corry, Darren Meenan (Dean Marshall 46) Robbie Creevy, Robbie Benson (Samir Belhout 73), Mark Langtry (Thomas Boyle 46); Graham Rusk.
Subs not used: Daniel Ledwith, David O'Connor, Mark McGinley, Danny Fallon.

Bookings: M Leahy (41), R Creevy (58).

Bohemians: Chris O'Connor; Owen Heary, Ger O'Brien, Liam Burns, Aiden Price; Mark Rossiter, Gary Burke (Robert Bayly 64), Keith Buckley (Chris Forrester 79), Killian Brennan;  Anto Flood, Stephen Traynor (Daniel Joyce, 82).
Subs not used: Craig Sexton, Jason Dwane, David Lodola, Kevin Feely.

Bookings: None.

Referee: Alan Kelly.
Attendance: 777
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Anto Flood (Bohemians).