UCD won the battle of the top two at Belfield on Friday night as they beat Drogheda 2-0. Georgie Kelly’s 12th and 13th goals of the season, scored either side of the break, proved to be the difference between the sides. There are still 10 games to g
UCD won the battle of the top two at Belfield on Friday night as they beat Drogheda 2-0.
Georgie Kelly’s 12th and 13th goals of the season, scored either side of the break, proved to be the difference between the sides. There are still 10 games to go in the First Division, but when the promotion places are decided in September this might prove to be a crucial result.
It was a reasonably open first-half at Belfield. Daire O’Connor forced Paul Skinner into a smart save inside ninety seconds. Conor Kearns had to tip a Jake Hyland effort over the bar, at the other end, a few minutes later.
UCD also hit the crossbar, before Kelly’s goal in the twenty-first minute. Greg Sloggett put in a superb low cross, and the striker got between the centre backs to poke the ball home. As the half wore on, Drogheda grew into the game. Sean Brennan hit a shot inches wide, after being set up by Mark Doyle.
Chris Lyons was then unlucky just before the break. He got away from Josh Collins, but the ball bobbled just as he was hitting it, and his effort went miles over Kearns’s bar. McClelland nearly doubled the lead shortly after the resumption. He beat two players out left, before pulling the trigger from a tight angle. Skinner let the ball wriggle under his body, before claiming it.
It was by no means all UCD, and Kearns had to be alert just before the hour mark to save from Lyons. Moments later, O’Connor missed a glorious chance after being set up by O’Neill. He tried to pick his spot, but the effort was the wide of the right post.
But UCD put the game to bed inside the final ten minutes, as Kelly jumped highest to head O’Neill’s corner home. The Students take a four point lead to Ballybofey on Friday.
