- Josh Dolan
- Sat, May 16 2015
Goals from Tomas Boyle, Dylan Watts, an own goal from James Dermody plus a strike from Ryan Swan helped UCD to their fifth win of the season with a 4-1 victory over Wexford Youths at the UCD Bowl on Friday night.
Boyle gave UCD the lead mid-way through the first half, Aidan Keenan equalised shortly after the hour mark, before three goals in 13 minutes helped UCD to a deserved win.
The first half took a while to get going at the UCD Bowl. However, we nearly had our first goal after just four minutes, as a Wexford clearance blocked by Robbie Benson sailed over Graham Doyle in the Youths goal, but fortunately for him not into the goal.
UCD had the majority of the chances early on. Ryan Swan came close to an opener ten minutes in, as a Mark Langtry long throw was headed down by Jamie Doyle, but Swan failed to make contact with the ball.
Shane Keegan’s Wexford side looked threatening down the left and when Andy Mulligan broke down that side and crossed, Ryan McLaughlin was left to clear, as several Youths attackers lurked at the far post.
UCD grabbed the opener on 22 minutes, as Robbie Benson’s free kick resulting from Craig Wall’s foul on Jamie Doyle was only cleared as far as Tomas Boyle, who from 12 yards shot home for his first goal of the season.
Students forward Swan was lively on the night and came close shortly after the hour mark, as he broke down the left, before cutting inside and firing an effort, which was well blocked by Youths defender Lee Grace.
Wexford began to come into the game as the half reached its last 15 minutes. Ex-Bohs man Mulligan fired a dangerous 35 yard effort from the left, but the shot went inches wide of Niall Corbet’s goal.
Danny Furlong, who has been in great form for the Youths in recent weeks had a great chance to level in the dying moments of the half, as he headed James Dermody’s cross narrowly over the UCD crossbar from close range.
The Youths began the second half well, as a couple of Johnny Bonner free kicks tested the Students rear-guard. First, goal scorer Keenan headed just wide at the far post, before Gary Delaney headed off target from a similar position moments later.
Keenan was the source of Wexford’s equaliser just before the hour, as the midfielder headed Furlong’s cross past Corbet in the UCD goal.
The home side were denied what looked a sure penalty just a minute later, as Swan raced clear only to be pulled back and he was booked for his protests.
Swan didn’t let it put him down, as minutes later he wriggled past a couple of challenges, before laying the ball off to Dylan Watts, who fired past Graham Doyle from a couple of yards.
It was end to end action and the Youths came close to leveling once more, as UCD stalwart McLaughlin cleared Conor Whittle’s close range effort off the line.
UCD really came into their own in the closing period of the match and were 3-1 up 16 minutes from time. Jamie Doyle broke down the left, before seeing his cross deflected into his own goal by James Dermody with Swan appearing to get a crucial touch leading to confusion as to who the goal should be credited to. The stadium announcer awarding it to the UCD striker, Swan.
The Students were on target again just four minutes later, as Swan raced through unopposed, before firing past Youth net-minder Graham Doyle to score his fifth of the 2015 campaign.
UCD: Niall Corbet; Mark Langtry, Michael Leahy, Tomas Boyle, Ryan McLaughlin (Sean Coyne 82); Dylan Watts (Adam Harney 90+1), Jack Watson, Robbie Benson; Samir Belhout, Ryan Swan (Eoin Kirwan 84), Jamie Doyle.
Subs Not Used: Conor Mackey, Ian Ryan.
Yellow Cards: Leahy (29), Swan (63).
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle (C); Conor Whittle (Phillip Drohan 85), Gary Delaney, Lee Grace, James Dermody (Stephen Last 85); Eric Molloy (Peter Higgins 85), Craig Wall, John Bonner; Andy Mulligan, Daniel Furlong, Aidan Keenan.
Subs Not Used: Craig McCabe, Craig Comeford, Conor English, Danny Niekis.
Yellow Cards: Wall (21), Furlong (49), Delaney (58).
Referee: Adriano Reale.
Attendance: 211.
Extratime.ie Man of the match: Ryan Swan (UCD).
