UCD 1
Drogheda United 0
ON A NERVOUS night in Belfield, UCD secured the victory that they needed in order to save themselves from automatic relegation thanks to a brilliant first-half strike from Conor Cannon.
The Students took the lead six minutes before the break as Conor Cannon caught the Drogheda defence off guard. Cannon turned quickly in the box upon receiving the ball from Gary Burke before unleashing a powerful low drive that snuck under Dylan Connolly.
With half time fast approaching captain Robbie Benson should have capped off a fine passing move as Burke, Belhout and Creevy all assisted in the build-up. However Benson, through on goal opted to pass back to one of his team mates, thus giving Drogheda the chance to clear the impending danger.
The second half saw Drogheda greatly improve on their first half performance but it was still The Students who looked the more likely to get a goal with Cannon striking the post shortly before the hour mark.
However after that neither side managed to create many clear-cut chances with Drogheda’s Gavan Holohan impressing for the Louth side. In the end UCD lived to fight another day and they can now begin to prepare for a relegation play off on Monday evening in Belfield.
UCD: Conor O’Donnell, Gareth Matthews, Ian Ryan, James Kavanagh, Mark Langtry (Daniel Tobin, 57); Gary Burke, Robbie Creevy, Robbie Benson [C], Timmy Molloy, Samir Belhout (Colm Crowe, 84); Conor Cannon (Gregory Sloggett, 87).
DROGHEDA UNITED: Dylan Connelly, Mick Daly, Alan McNally, Ciaran McGuigan, Shane Grimes; Stephen Maher (Paul Crowley, 67), Daire Doyle (Paul Andrews, 84), Gavin Holohan; Carl Walshe, Declan O’Brien [C] (Cathal Brady, 67), Gary O’Neill.
Referee: Paul Tuite