- Dave Donnelly
- Fri, Apr 08 2016
Two headed goals from defender Maxi Kouogun helped UCD to a 2-1 victory over Dublin rivals Shelbourne in a pulsating game at Tolka Park.
Former Student, Jamie Doyle, had cancelled out Kouogun's early opener mid-way through the first half, but the winger's evening turned sour as he was sent off in injury while his side chased in vain for an equaliser.
Injuries forced Shels boss Kevin Doherty to select two midfielders, Dylan Kavanagh and captain Daire Doyle, in the full back slots, and his defensive woes were deepened as Ryan Robinson spent the first five minutes receiving treatment for a nose injury.
UCD had already registered their first shot on goal within 30 seconds as Ryan Swan skewed his shot wide after a strong tackle from Dylan Watts dispossessed Cian Kavanagh.
Midfielder Kavanagh, on loan from Shamrock Rovers like his namesake Dylan, was threatening with his set-piece delivery, and after Jamie Doyle should have done better from his clipped free kick, the resulting corner caused panic in the Students' defence before Watts hacked free.
UCD took the lead with 14 minutes on the clock after a period of sustained pressure in which Marty Waters first saw his goal-bound free kick expertly blocked by Daire Doyle, and from the resulting corner Kouogun rose unchallenged to head his third league goal in six games.
Waters came close to doubling the advantage with a vicious swerving shot that Greg Murray did very well to get low and hold at the first attempt, before Lorcan Shannon wasted a great chance to equalise when he shot meekly at Niall Corbett from Jamie Doyle's swift break.
Watts forced another good save from Murray when he got his head to Waters' hanging cross after 18-year-old winger Daire O'Connor showed great strength to dispossess Daire Doyle by the left-side corner flag.
Sodiq Oguntola was next to be wasteful from a Shannon break, but thee Nigerian made amends from the resulting corner as he cushioned the ball perfectly for Jamie Doyle to strike first time into the corner against the side he left in the winter.
Both sides were playing open and expansive football but UCD continued to look the more likely to create something incisive, and Waters had a chance to send the Students in at half time in front but his low drive was well-blocked by Murray.
It took barely 90 seconds of the second half for UCD to take the lead, however, as a spell of pressure eventually led to O'Connor slicing a volley straight to Kouogun, who watched his header loop over Murray and into the corner of the net.
Waters should have extended the lead just after the hour as he got on the end of O’Connor’s cross, but with an open goal to aim at he somehow managed to scoop over from barely three yards out.
Doherty brought on James English for Dylan Kavanagh and switched to a 3-5-2 in an effort to chase the game, and UCD took full advantage of the extra space out wide as Watts forced another good save from Murray before Daire Doyle headed just wide of his own goal from Waters' cross.
Shels rallied in the closing stages and, after Oguntola was denied a penalty after going down under Brian Shortall's challenge, he acrobatically volleyed just wide before English wastefully volleyed over an inviting Kavanagh cross.
The game lost all semblance of shape as extra time approached as both teams poured forward in search of another goal. Waters and substitute Georgie Kelly put one-on-ones wide, before Kouogun did excellently to put off English when he seemed destined to equalise.
Jamie Doyle saw red for a second bookable offence as the clock ran out to cap off a miserable evening for the hosts.
Shelbourne: Greg Murray; Daire Doyle, Adam O'Sullivan, Ryan Robinson (Robert O'Reilly 32), Dylan Kavanagh; Cian Kavanagh, Gavin Boyne, Carl Walshe (Gareth Coughlan 80), Lorcan Shannon, Jamie Doyle, Sodiq Oguntola.
Subs not used: Jack Brady (gk), Alan Kehoe, Robert Duggan, Mark Sandford.
Yellow Cards: Jamie Doyle (30, 90+3), Daire Doyle (77).
Red Cards: Jamie Doyle (90+3).
UCD: Niall Corbett; Adam Harney, Maxi Kouogun, Brian Shortall, Mark Langtry; Greg Sloggett (Jack Watson 43), Gary O'Neill, Dylan Watts, Daire O'Connor, Marty Waters; Ryan Swan (Georgie Kelly 80).
Subs not used: Conor O'Donnell (gk), Josh Collins, Jason McClelland, Rob Manley.
Yellow Cards: Dylan Watts (90+6)
Red Cards: None.
Referee: Robert Hennessey.
Attendance: 602.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Maxi Kouogun (UCD)
