- Gareth O'Reilly
- Sat, Aug 01 2015
UCD ran out three goals to one winners over Cabinteely in a close and hard fought encounter between these two South Dublin First Division clubs.
Despite controlling the possession stats for the entire contest the College found it difficult to break down a resilient Cabinteely outfit with new goalkeeper Evan Moran particularly impressive. In the end through it was second half strikes from Jamie Doyle and Tomas Boyle that saw them over the line despite originally falling behind to a Sodiq Oguntola spot-kick.
The College completely dominated the opening ten minutes of this one with Collie O’Neill’s men having numerous chances to open the scoring, most notably through Ryan Swan and Robbie Benson. Despite this dominance it was Cabinteely that would get the game’s opening goal after UCD keeper Niall Corbet conceded a sloppy penalty kick, with Sodiq Oguntola the man chosen to step up and send the shotstopper the wrong way.
Although that lead lasted just five minutes as Ryan Swan delivered a perfectly placed cross from wide on the left that found the head of his captain Robbie Benson who headed calmly past Cabinteely’s debut making keeper, Evan Moran.
Moran was really struggling to deal with UCD’s relentless crosses especially when the former West Brom player had to deal with the height of Conor Cannon and Jamie Doyle trying to get on the end of those well placed deliveries.
At this point many of the crowd might have expected the game to bounce into life but instead we were treated to a passfest from UCD as the Students passed the ball from left to right, from top to bottom and just about everything in between but struggled when it came to carving out any real goalscoring opportunities.
UCD entered the second half with renewed urgency as manager O’Neill’s words were clearly still ringing in their ears. Much like the first half one of their best opening chances came through the head of Doyle after a long throw from Mark Langtry was not sufficiently cleared.
UCD continued to dominate proceedings with Swan and Benson looking as lively as ever, however the key thing for Cabinteely – who were without manager Eddie Gormley due to the former Bray boss being away on holidays – was that those shots were not creating any real concerns for Moran and his defence.
Then just after the hour mark winger Jamie Doyle struck to put the Students in front for the first time in the contest. The winter signing cut firing his effort past home keeper Evan Moran and in off the post.
With the Students now in front they were beginning to use their superior skill levels with Ryan Swan forcing Evan Moran to make a fantastic stop while moments earlier it was Jack Watson that forced the keeper into two great parries. Boyle then headed over not long after from a corner kick and Mark Langtry on a forward run from his right back position forced yet another good save, this time at his near post.
With ten minutes to go and just the one goal in it the home players and fans seemed to finally believe they could salvage something from the game as Oguntola and Ebbe both failed to capitalise when their guilt edged opportunities presented themselves. UCD therefore would emerge with all three points as the Students returned to Belfield with the job done.
Cabinteely: Evan Moran, Karl Byrne, Jamie Broderick, Josh Quinlivan, Michael Brown (Lloyd Cairns 69); Stephen Dunne (Ross Broderick 77), Richard Purdy, John McKeown, Sodiq Oguntola; Peter Durrad, Dean Ebbe.
Subs Not Used: Aaron Brilly, Conor Foley, Stephen Hanley, Darren Clarke, Sean Hyland.
Yellow Cards: Oguntola (90).
UCD: Niall Corbet, Mark Langtry, Tomas Boyle, Maxi Kougoun, Ryan McLaughlin; Jamie Doyle (Eoin Kirwan 74), Jack Watson, Gary O’Neill, Robbie Benson; Conor Cannon, Ryan Swan.
Subs Not Used: Conor Mackey, Sean Coyne, Dan Tobin, Daire O’Connor, Tom O’Halloran, Jason McClelland
Yellow Cards: Corbet (12), Boyle (90).
Referee: Keith Kennedy (IFA).
Attendance: 300 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Jack Watson (UCD).
