- Fran Reilly
- Sat, Apr 25 2015
UCD will be the more disappointed of the two sides after they could only manage a 1-1 draw with Cobh Ramblers at the UCD Bowl after wasting numerous chances to kill the game.
Collie O'Neill's side dominated the first-half but went in at the break just one goal to the good when Ryan Swan netted his second goal against Cobh this season after just 14 minutes. The Students wasted a whole host of chances before Stephen Henderson's men got back into the game against the run of play, through a 61st minute penalty from Stephen Kenny.
These two teams met on the first day of the season when UCD went to St. Colman's Park and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners, and for long periods a similar scoreline threatened to materialise in Belfield. However, Henderson has instilled a sterner mentality in this Rams squad since being reappointed to the hotseat and this result extends Cobh's unbeaten league record under his guidance to four games.
With both sides seeking to play good football but lacking the required incisiveness in the early stages, it was perhaps fitting that it was a set-piece which gave the game its opening goal – and it was the home side who took the lead after 14 minutes.
An Audi Dunlea foul 35 yards from goal on UCD's left flank allowed Students skipper Chris Mulhall to curl an inviting dead ball into Cobh's six yard box, and it was Ryan Swan who rose highest to head home beyond the helpless Stephen Hickey for his third goal of the season.
After taking the lead, UCD took control of the game, nullifying any attempted Cobh breakaways without really creating anything clearcut themselves in conditions which reflected the quality on show – it went from sunshine to drizzly rain before half an hour had elapsed.
However, UCD had chances to double their lead before the break. In the 28th minute, some good work by Mulhall left Ryan Goldsmith on his backside, but his delivery was audaciously cleared by the standing roundhouse backheel of Darren Murphy Jnr. The ball then dropped to Gary O'Neill on the edge of the box – the midfielder took a touch and volleyed goalward, but it was just too high to trouble Hickey.
An even better chance presented itself on the stroke of half-time when Michael Leahy's pinpoint delivery was met in the six yard box by a towering Jamie Doyle – but he could only direct his powerful header straight at Hickey, when putting it either side of the Rams 'keeper would surely have resulted in a goal.
Eoin Kirwan was the next UCD player to pass up a great chance when he fired horribly wide with the goal at his mercy from 12 yards in the 51st minute. Soon enough, UCD would begin to regret those missed opportunities when, against the run of play, Ramblers won a penalty.
Stephen Kenny took a pass off the overalapping Adam O'Sullivan in the 61st minute and bent a weak looking ball into the box with the outside of his foot. With little danger on, Niall Corbet came off his line to collect, but seemingly caught substitute Jonathan Creamer who reached the ball first, and referee Michael Connolly pointed to the spot.
It was hard to tell whether or not the 'keeper got a touch on it, but that didn't bother Kenny who stepped up to reap the rewards of his initially poor looking ball to convert with far more conviction from 12 yards and bring Cobh level with their first real chance of the game.
Indeed, Cobh could have been ahead moments later when Creamer found himself free on the right side of the box with space to shoot, but he dragged his attempt wide of the target.
UCD sought to regain their earlier dominance and saw further chances from O'Neill, Mulhall and McLaughlin wasted as the game drew ever closer to its stalemate conclusion – but not before Cobh had a goal ruled out in stoppage time for an offside on would be goalscorer Murphy Jnr.
UCD: Niall Corbet; Michael Leahy, Tomas Boyle (Dylan Watts 82), Maxi Kougoun, Ryan McLaughlin; Chris Mulhall, Gary O'Neill, Jack Watson, Jamie Doyle (Mark Langtry 78); Eoin Kirwan (Conor Cannon 70); Ryan Swan.
Subs not used: Conor Mackey (gk), Sean Coyne, Adam Harney, Samir Belhout.
Bookings: Swan (65), O'Neill (88).
Cobh Ramblers: Stephen Hickey; Adam O'Sullivan, Brendan Frahill, Eoghan Murphy, Kevin Mulcahy; Stephen Kenny, Audi Dunlea, Chris McCarthy, Ryan Goldsmith; Darren Murphy (95); Ronan Stanton (Jonathan Creamer, 55).
Subs not used: David Browne (gk), Dave Curran, Daniel Barry, Steven McCarthy, George Gill, Robbie Waters.
Bookings: E. Murphy (69), O'Sullivan (75), Kenny (84).
Referee: Michael Connolly.
Attendance: 126
Extratime Man of the Match: Gary O'Neill (UCD).
