UCD got their campaign back on track with a 1-1 draw with Shelbourne at The Bowl on Friday night. After last week’s 5-1 defeat to Longford, Collie O’Neill had challenged his team to step up their performance against Shels. In the first-half, it see
UCD got their campaign back on track with a 1-1 draw with Shelbourne at The Bowl on Friday night.
After last week’s 5-1 defeat to Longford, Collie O’Neill had challenged his team to step up their performance against Shels. In the first-half, it seemed as though it was going to be another difficult night for The Students as they failed to put substantial periods of play together.
The second-half was much closer. Yoyo Mahdy gave UCD the lead, and they looked much more dangerous thereafter. But Shels kept battling, and Derek Prendergast rescued at point for them in the final ten minutes.
Greg Sloggett had a great chance for College in the fourth minute, getting on the end of a corner. He was unmarked, seven yards out, but he couldn’t get his header on target. David O’Sullian should have given Shels the lead on thirteen minutes.
He got on the end of a free-kick, but Conor Kearns showed lightning reactions to push the effort away. Neil Farrugia was played through just before the half-hour mark. He got power behind the effort, but Dean Delany got down low to save.
The opening goal came inside ten minutes of the restart. Daire O’Connor split the defence with a low pass, and Mahdy finished into the far left corner. The goal gave The Students a big lift, and they got on top in the game for the first time.
Farrugia nearly set up O’Connor for their second goal, but his mis-hit effort was just wide to the right. Dean Delany then saved from a Farrugia header. As the half wore on though, the visitors began to get back into the game.
O’Sullivan was unlucky to see an effort come back off Adam Evans. They got their reward with just over five minutes to go. Prendergast jumped highest to head a corner home, and to see both sides leave Belfield with a share of the spoils
