KEVIN FEELY’S EARLY red card gave Bohemians a mountain to climb in Belfield, and the challenge got even steeper when Daniel ledwith curled in the resulting free-kick to give UCD a seventh -minute lead.
Ledwith was the cause of the defender’s dismissal as he poached possession after a heavy touch. Rather than allow him through on goal, Feely cut the attacker down.
Ledwith would not be denied, though, and he almost doubled his tally before the game was 10 minutes old. Another free-kick, but this one whistled outside the post.
With the extra man, the Students dominated possession and the visitors rarely got close enough to trouble them in the first half. Certainly not in the 22nd minute when Paul O’Conor’s 30-yard pot-shot ricocheted its way into the net.
The second goal prompted Aaron Callaghan to belatedly make a defensive switch, introducing Derek Pender to stem the tide. It had the desired effect as David McMillan’s dribble and shot – turned away by Greg Murray – proved the highlight of the game’s second quarter.
The second half’s early exchanges brought only chances from distance from the hosts who should have been in control. Instead the visitors held on grimly and, once Dave Scully was sprung from the bench on 65 minutes, looked the better side – certainly the more purposeful side.
Dave Mulcahy twice went close, once an inch wide with a sliding effort and once denied by a Ger Baron save. Then it was Scully’s turn; worrying Baron with an 86th minute shot before he found a 90th minute breakthrough.
The whistles rang out from the home supporters, as referee Sean Grant allowed a fifth minute of stoppage time and there Scully snatched a second off a set-piece to send the vocal visiting fans into raptures as the scoreboard read 2:2.
It was the last kick of a game which UCD should have won comfortably, but Bohs dogged determination can never be underestimated.
Across the M50, there was no such drama as Shamrock Rovers ran riot over Dundalk with a 7-0 thrashing coming thanks to doubles from Gary McCabe and Gary Twigg.
Floodgates
Dundalk held out for 27 minutes before the first of the Hoops’ magnificent seven came along through Ronan Finn’s 18-yard strike. From there though, the floodgates could not be closed and Ken Oman was on the score-sheet two minutes later, tapping in from Killian Brennan’s inswinging cross.
On the stroke of half-time, Ciaran Kilduff had an equally easy task, tapping home from Finn’s cross to make it 3-0.
Kilduff continued to torment the Louthmen after the break, but the hosts would stretch their lead from McCabe’s penalties on 57 and 65 minutes before Twigg got in on the act with 20 minutes to go, latching onto a poor Steven McDonnell backpass.
The Scot would add his second on the 72 minute mark, a rout completed for Brian Laws’ side, the first time the Hoops have hit seven in Tallaght.
Quota
11 goals in two games. It seems the quotas were used up for the meeting of second and third placed St Pat’s and Drogheda (read how that unfolded here) and Bray’s visit to Shelbourne.
Chances were at a premium in Tolka park as 716 people watched these sides. Jason Byrne went closest for the visitors in the early stages, but Shels looked the most likely in the second 45 with a fine move teeing up Paddy Kavanagh for a chance, saved by Darron Quigley.
The home side went forward in waves in the final portion of the game with further openings from Kavanagh and Ian Ryan, but Quigley would not be beaten.
Results:
Premier DivisionDrogheda United 0 – 0 St Patrick’s Athletic
UCD 2 – 2 Bohemians
Shamrock Rovers 7 – 0 Dundalk
Shelbourne 0 – 0 Bray
First Division
Limerick FC 1 – 0 Athlone Town
Mervue United 0 – 0 Wexford Youths
