- Josh Dolan
- Sat, Sep 27 2014
Dundalk took another step towards the Airtricity League Premier Division title as they beat relegation threatened UCD by two goals to nil in Belfield, on Friday night.
A ninth minute deflected strike by FIFA 15 cover boy Richie Towell, coupled with a second half effort from Kurtis Byrne, helped The Lilywhites to their 20th win of the season.
The Lilywhites had all the possession early on and were rewarded for their efforts on nine minutes as ex- student Andy Boyle laid the ball on for Towell who saw his powerful 20 yard effort deflected past Conor O’Donnell by UCD defender Hugh Douglas.
Despite continuing to apply extensive pressure on The Students back four, it took Stephen Kenny’s side until the 20th minute to muster up another shot when Daryl Horgan fired high and wide from range after taking advantage of a miss placed pass by UCD’s Conor Cannon.
Dundalk front man Patrick Hoban has been in exemplary form this season and he came close to making it two after 23 minutes, as the Galway native saw his shot well saved by O’Donnell in the UCD goal.
The home side then broke quickly and fashioned their first effort of the game as Chris Mulhall made his way down the right wing, before crossing for Robbie Creevy whose volley went straight at Dundalk shot stopper Peter Cherrie.
The Louth side continued to probe at The Students defence, but in credit to The Boys in Blue they restricted the table toppers attempts effectively, which meant it remained 1-0 at the interval.
The Lilywhites started the second half as quick as the first half. First Daryl Horgan broke down the left, before seeing his threatening cross headed behind by Sean Coyne at the far post and from the resulting corner the ball broke to the man of the moment Richie Towell who showed he was human by blasting a considerable distance over O’Donnell’s crossbar from the edge of the box.
Kurtis Byrne had a great chance to double his side’s lead minutes later, as he latched onto a quick free kick, before firing narrowly wide of the near post.
Dundalk continued to dominate and had another chance to make it 2-0 on 54 minutes, as Horgan’s exquisite ball over the top found Sean Gannon at the back post, but the full-back’s goal ward effort was well blocked by Students centre back Ian Ryan.
The Lilywhites were really beginning to make their pressure play and some excellent build up play between Gannon and Meenan led to Meenan laying the ball off for Byrne, who shot narrowly wide of the UCD goal.
Former UCD man Meenan forced a decent save out of O’Donnell in the UCD goal, as the midfielder’s 30 yard curling strike was adequately dealt with by The Students number one.
Chances were few and far between for The Students on the night and Captain Benson wasted a chance on 68 minutes, as his free kick evaded all of his team mates, before fizzling out for a Dundalk goal kick.
It’s already been proven this season that you can’t afford Hoban time and space this season and that’s what The Students learned with 70 minutes to go, as the striker cut inside UCD debutant Daniel Tobin, before firing past O’Donnell to double Dundalk’s lead.
Left winger Ayman Ben Mohammed was The Students’ one real bright spark. He went on numerous mazy runs through second half proceedings, but unfortunately could never quite find an end product.
Towell had a chance to grab his second and Dundalk’s third with six minutes to go, as he was picked out by substitute David McMillan, before firing yards wide of O’Donnell’s right hand post.
Dundalk Striker McMillan had an unfortunate return to The UCD Bowl as he was forced off just four minutes after coming on, as he fell awkwardly on the right hand touch- line, before being stretchered to an ambulance.
UCD: Conor O’Donnell; Daniel Tobin (Adam Harney 90+3), Ian Ryan, Hugh Douglas, Sean Coyne; Colm Crowe, Robbie Creevy, Robbie Benson; Chris Mulhall (Kaleem Simon 80), Conor Cannon (Samir Belhout 61), Ayman Ben Mohammed
Subs Not Used: Niall Corbet (gk); Timmy Molloy, Gary Burke.
Booked: None
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Richie Towell, Darren Meenan; Kurtis Byrne (Ruadhri Higgins 76), Patrick Hoban (David McMillan 82)( Donal McDermott 86), Daryl Horgan.
Subs Not Used: Gabriel Sava (gk); Mark Rossiter; Ruadhri Higgins, John Mountney; Mark Griffin.
Booked: Dane Massey (33)
Referee: Jim McKell.
Attendance: 676
Extratime.ie Man Of The Match: Darren Meenan (Dundalk).
