REPORT: UCD AFC 0-1 Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers kept the pace with Dundalk at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division after a 1-0 win over UCD at Belfield on Friday night.

It was an entertaining game in Dublin 4, with Dan Carr’s early goal proving to be the difference between the sides in the end. But there could have been far more, with UCD keeper Conor Kearns in fine form, and College looking dangerous on the break.

The opening fifteen minutes was even, with Jason McClelland and Yoyo Mahdy going close for UCD, while Rovers were raining in crosses on the College box. Dan Carr would give the Hoops the lead on 22 minutes, as he poked Aaron Greene’s cross home.

Kearns got to the ball, but referee Neil Doyle ruled that it had crossed the line to no complaints from the UCD players. It was nearly two moments later, but Kearns blocked Trevor Clarke’s effort with his feet.

But UCD were creating chances, and Conor Davis had a shot cleared off the line by Roberto Lopes just after the half-hour mark. Greene forced Kearns into another good save with his feet, before Carr flashed an effort wide from inside the box, before the break.

Carr came off with 15 minutes to go, but he was involved with everything good Rovers did before that, particularly down that left side. He nearly had a second just before the hour mark, but Kearns again saved well with his legs.

Shortly afterwards, Gary O’Neill’s free-kick was inches wide of Mannus’s left post, before Paul Doyle blasted over from a Neil Farrugia cross. In between those chances, Joel Coustrain hit the post for Rovers with a shot from the edge of the box.

There was a tense finish for the visitors, as UCD went in search of an unlikely equaliser. But Rovers held on a for a crucial three points, a result which plunges Friday’s hosts into ever further relegation worries.