- Stephen Pollard
- Fri, Oct 25 2013
UCD came out the best of the three teams in the relegation play off battle on the final day with a 2-1 win over relegated Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday night.
The visitors took the lead after an 18th minute penalty from star performer Robbie Benson after he was fouled. But the Reds hit back a minute later though through Ian Ryan before a well placed finish from Dean Clarke sowed up the points and the Students survival.
The hosts should have taken the lead in the ninth minute. Derek Doyle broke down the left, whipping the ball in on the run, which evaded the Students defence and fell to Dylan Connelly.
He took on the effort, but with Mark McGinley beaten he skied the chance clear over the crossbar and into the empty stand behind.
It may well have been one nil to the visitors on 11 minutes. First Benson broke into the box and dinked the ball over Lee Murphy. It looked in but for a clearance by Paul Andrews. That was immediately followed up with shots by Sean Russell and then an effort from Craig Walsh, which deflected off Clarke to safety.
In the 18th minute the momentum shifted. Benson was upended in the area and the playmaker stepped up to smash a beautiful penalty into the top corner, giving Murphy in the Shels no chance.
Just a minute later, though, the result was back up in the air. Shelbourne won a corner and from that their captain, Ryan, rose highest to bring the already relegated hosts level.
Unbelievably, just seconds later, the visitors went back in front. Benson broke on the right hand side and fizzed the ball into the six yard box for Clarke to poke home through the legs of Murphy.
Shelbourne could well have equalised for a second time in the 26th minute. Carl Walshe held the ball up and then turned Dave O'Connor before squaring to Dean Kelly. He went for the option of curling the ball around McGinley but the keeper was equal to it, tipping the ball over the bar with a superb save.
The game settled down after that with a tame Robbie Creevy shot the only chance of note as half time drew close.
Shels came within a whisker of drawing level five minutes before the break but Robert Bayly's ambitious free kick was tipped over by McGinley to keep his side in front going into the break.
Just moments into the second period UCD could well have extended their lead. Walsh squared the ball to the edge of the box for Benson who struck the effort goalward but Ian Ryan blocked the ball to safety.
The game went flat for a while with a James Kavanagh shot all either side could muster as UCD nerves began to show. Kelly almost made them pay in the 59th minute as he cut inside from the left and ran towards goal before firing a shot into the side netting. A real scare for UCD.
Shels had another chance to draw level, Doyle smashing a left footed free kick over from the edge of the box. It was a poor effort considering the dangerous position.
With twenty minutes left the Students will have felt they should have had the game sown up after Clarke broke free of defensive coverage. He put the ball past Murphy but unfortunately for the youngster it rebounded off the post and back out to safety.
UCD's captain on the night, O'Connor, then came to the rescue with fifteen minutes remaining when Walshe set Doyle away and, as he shot, O'Connor came flying in to make a vital goal saving block.
In search of an equaliser to restore pride, Shels brought on Lee Murtagh to try and bag a goal. Connelly broke down the right and it looked as if manager McDonnell's change had worked but the striker could not direct his effort toward McGinley's net.
UCD could have made their last couple of minutes a lot easier but Creevy's shot was struck safely into the hands of Murphy. And that was that as UCD kept their Premier Division status for next season while Shelbourne will begin to prepare themselves for life in Ireland's second tier.
Shelbourne: Lee Murphy; Rob Cornwall, Ian Ryan, Paul Andrews, Jamie McGlynn (Stephen Hurley 46); Dylan Connelly, Pat Flynn, Robert Bayly (Lee Murtagh 85), Dean Kelly, Derek Doyle (Darren Tinnelly 85); Carl Walshe.
Subs not used: Niall Burdon (GK), Sean Brennan, Stephen Sheerin, Paul Crowley
Booked:
UCD: Mark McGinley; Michael Kelly, David O'Connor, Thomas Boyle, Mark Langtry (Sean Coyne 73); Craig Walsh, Robbie Creevy, Robbie Benson, James Kavanagh (Barry McCabe 88), Sean Russell; Dean Clarke (Cillian Morrison 78).
Subs not used: Ger Barron (GK), Michael Leahy, Gary Burke, Tom O'Halloran.
Booked: Boyle (26), Langtry (39).
Referee: Paul Tuite
Attendance: 628
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Robbie Benson (UCD).
