University College Dublin (UCD) dropped back down to fourth on the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division, after being beaten by Drogheda United on Friday night. The Students hosted Drogheda at the UCD Bowl in great conditions for football.
Heading into the game, just one point separated UCD and Drogheda on the First Division table, standing in third and second respectively. They were both hoping to close the gap on log-leaders Bray.
Colm Whelan up the scoring for the Students in the first 20 minutes of the game, allowing the hosts to take an early lead. This would be the only score of the first half, which was hotly contested between the two sides.
The visitors equalised shortly after the start of the second half, with Mark Doyle finding the back of the net. The disappointment continued for the hosts, as Doyle got his second of the night within 10 minutes of his first.
Both teams struggled to establish dominance from that point on, clearing their benches trying to gain the upper hand. Although UCD did look like equalising in several points of the second half, they were ultimately unable to get find the back of the net for the remainder of the game.
Drogheda got the final say of the match through the boot of Brandon Bermingham, who scored in the final minute of the game.
Despite the victory for Drogheda, they remain in second position behind Bray, who defeated Longford Town 3-0 on Friday. Cabinteely’s 2-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers II was bad news for the Students, as they replaced the college side in third place on the log.
UCD will go up against Longford Town on Monday at Strokestown Road. Both Longford and UCD are equal on 20 points, with UCD standing one place ahead of Longford on the log due to their goal difference.
Stephen Kisbey-Green – Co-Editor
