Gary O'Neill struck from the spot to secure a win for UCD in a dead rubber at Belfield. There was little in way of motivation going into the game with Cobh and UCD likely to finish second and third respectively. The visitors dominated the first half
Gary O'Neill struck from the spot to secure a win for UCD in a dead rubber at Belfield.
There was little in way of motivation going into the game with Cobh and UCD likely to finish second and third respectively. The visitors dominated the first half but they were disappointing in the final third - their best chance coming via a header that crashed off the crossbar, dropped on the line and bounced clear.
UCD had the ball in the back of the net eight minutes earlier when Liam Scales found Robert Manley in the middle of the box and the big man slotted home. However, the linesman's flag cut the celebrations short as Hanley had strayed just offside.
UCD looked to switch the dynamic of the game in the second half and become the team to dominate possession. It worked well and resulted in them taking the lead in the 59th minute. Robert Manley had raced past the defence on the left-hand side and Cobh keeper Paul Hunt left his goal to meet him.
Manley got their first, however, and was awarded a penalty after Hunt caught him just inside the area - a challenge that would result in the keeper leaving the field a few minutes later after picking up a knock.
Gary O'Neill stepped up and sent Hunt the wrong way to give his side the lead. Cobh slowly worked their way into the second half after going behind but they struggled to create anything more than the occasional half chance and the game petered out for a UCD victory.
