- Tim Brennan
- Sat, Apr 14 2018
From Tim Brennan in the UCD Bowl
UCD regained top spot in the First Divison after a hard fought and enthralling encounter at the UCD Bowl on Friday evening. Georgie Kelly was the hero for the home team hitting a hat-trick in a 3-2 win over Finn Harps.
The visitors sought to impose themselves physically on the Students, earning a rash of first half yellow cards for their efforts. Undeterred though, the home team hit the front after 14 minutes.
Liam Scales’ sweeping cross from the left was slightly behind Kelly. However the striker did superbly to readjust and hang a looping header over Ciaran Gallagher and into the Harps goal.
College were a bit sharper in the opening stages, however Harps were grew into the game, driven as ever by the effervescent Paddy McCourt. A mazy dribble after 25 minutes reminded those in attendance of his undoubted quality. However the free kick he earned led to nothing.
Minutes later, Michael O’Connor did well to shuffle away from pressure on the edge of the UCD box, before flashing a left foot shot wide. Soon after, the striker found a yard of space, albeit at a tight angle, but again the show was wide.
Those O’Connor’s chances should have served as a warning to the Students but they allowed him more time three minutes from the break which led to the equaliser. A reverse pass from McCourt created space on the right for Michael O’Connor to have a shot.
This time his effort was on target, but was superbly parried by Conor Kearns in the UCD goal. His parry however fell to the waiting Sam Todd who levelled the score.
That wasn’t the last of the first half action as by the break the home team found themselves trailing. On the stroke of half time again Harps found space on UCD’s right flank. Jesse Devers’ pull back was perfect and Mark Coyle buried his shot high past Corbett to turn the game on its head right before referee David Keeler’s half time whistle.
The opening stages of the second half were much cagier. Neither team could establish a foothold on possession and were ably matched in snubbing each other out. On the hour mark though that changed, as Gary O’Neil found space to carry the ball into the Finn Harps half.
His weighted pass to Daire O’Connor allowed the attacker to jink by the lunge of the tracking Michael O’Connor, however his cross was poor, and Gallagher was able to gather at his near post.
Harps left too much space in their own half on 68 minutes, and this time the home team went direct to Sloggett. He beat Todd in the footrace to touch the ball passed the onrushing Gallagher. Time seemed to stand still as the ball rolled towards the endline, as the onlookers waited to see which side of the post it would cross. Fortunately for the home team, it was the right side to equalise and the game was back on.
Harps looked to strike back immediately and found space in the UCD half. Kearns was forced to leave his goal to close down Michael O’Connor’s shot. The ball fell to McCourt who duly lofted the ball over the keeper. Kearns backtracked and seemed happy to allow the ball run out of play, however he misjudged it and the ball rebounded off the post and off his legs and out for a corner.
From the corner, Kearns pulled off what must be a save of the season contender. The fizzed cross was met by a Harps head, in less than a second, the ‘keeper sprang to his right and pawed the shot away. Ridiculous to the sublime anyone?
On 75 minutes the Students were back in front. There looked to be nothing on for UCD as they passed the ball around in front of the deep lying away team. That was before Kelly spun off his man and into the penalty area in perfect sync with Gary O’Neil’s lofted cross.
Harps will be disappointed with the ease the striker meandered into the box, even having time to look around before finishing for his hat trick.
Harps threw everything at their hosts in the closing stages, however all too often the creative burden fell to McCourt, who the students were clearly well warned of. In truth the Students were excellent value for their win, demonstrating resilience in the face of a tenacious Finn Harps side, and despite falling behind, they found answers to some very difficult questions.
Collie O’Neill will take great heart from this performance as his team return to the summit. For the away side, it’s back to the drawing board with more than a few questions for Ollie Horgan to ponder.
UCD:Conor Kearns; Daniel Tobin, Josh Collins, Maxi Kouogon, Liam Scales; Greg Sloggett, Gary O’Neill, Daire O’Connor, Kevin Coffey (Jason McClelland 61); Timmy Molloy (Paul Doyle 21), Georgie Kelly (Yoyo Mahdy 86).
Subs not used:Carl Williams, Darragh Corcoran, Conor Crowley, Ben Hanrahan
Booked:Greg Sloggett (85)
Finn Harps:Ciaran Gallagher; Aidan Friel (Adam Duffy 86), Sam Todd, Keith Cowan, Ciaran Coll; Mark Timlin, Mark Coyle (John O’Flynn 79), Tommy McBride (Ciaran O’Connor 61), Jesse Devers; Paddy McCourt; Michael O’Connor
Subs not used:Gareth Doherty, Peter Burke, Lee Toland, Mark Hannon
Booked:Keith Cowan, Aidan Friel (24), Tommy McBride, Paddy McCourt (67)
Attendance: 200 (Estimate)
ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match:Georgie Kelly (UCD)
Referee:David Keeler
