Sligo Rovers earned a hard-fought win over UCD in the Airtricity Premier Division at the UCD Bowl on Tuesday night.
The Bit o’ Red went in front inside the first minute when Richie Ryan’s cross was eventually fired home by leading league scorer Padraig Amond.
Rovers doubled their lead in the 47th minute thanks to Gavin Peers’ powerful header.
Despite plenty of possession and chances, UCD could not find a way past Richard Brush in the Sligo goal, with both teams being reduced to 10-men late on when Alan Keane and Greg Bolger saw red.
Sean Harding returned to the UCD line-up after missing their FAI Cup win over Drogheda United.
Rovers made three changes with Alan Keane, Danny Ventre and Eoin Doyle returning from suspension in place of Paul Whelan, Derek Foran and Gary McCabe.
The Bit o’ Red got off to a flyer. Joey N’do won a free-kick on the UCD left. Richie Ryan played a curling free-kick into the area but Gavin Peers’ effort was blocked by a College defender.
Ventre’s shot was also stopped and it was left to league leading scorer Amond to put Rovers a goal to the good.
Paul Cook’s side had the Students on the rack in the moments after the goal, with Dillon firing over in the fourth minute and then Russell narrowly missing out on an N’do through-ball two minutes later.
Sligo goalkeeper Richard Brush had to be alert in the 12th minute when closing down David McMillan in the Rovers area.
The Bit o’ Red almost doubled their lead soon after when N’do laid the ball off to John Dillon. The former Crewe winger turned past Evan McMillan but his effort went wide.
Mulhall proved to the star of the half for UCD, he tormented Iarfhliath Davoren throughout the first period.
In the 18th minute the winger twice beat Davoren to the ball, but the drilled cross was cleared by Peers.
Shortly after Sligo goalkeeper Brush struggled to clear a Sean Harding cross, Mulhall attempted a shot at goal but it did not have enough power and was easy for Brush.
N’do and Ryan were at the heart of most of the Bit o’ Red’s play.
Ryan exchanged passes midway through the half with the former Cameroon international, but his cross was cleared by Evan McMillan.
Mulhall continued to trouble Davoren but the winger couldn’t produce a telling pass and frustratingly for the home supporters, Paul Cook’s side had luck on their side.
UCD came close to drawing level on 34 minutes when Ward carved open the Sligo defence, however Corry’s strike was narrowly over the bar.
Davoren was booked in the 42nd minute when he fell victim to Mulhall’s trickery once again and held back the winger.
Corry’s free-kick was fisted away by Brush from the resulting free and Sligo cleared.
A mistake by Billy Brennan almost gifted Sligo a second goal right on half-time.
Brennan spilled Eoin Doyle’s cross, the ball came to N’do and he laid it off for Dillon to shoot. But Students defender Boyle blocked the ball and then also got in the way of Amond’s effort. Eventually College cleared and the referee blew for half time.
Rovers made UCD pay for more slack defending two minutes into the second half. Joey N’do’s in-swinging cross was headed into the net by Gavin Peers.
UCD had a good chance to get back into the game four minutes later when they won a free-kick on the edge of the area.
However, Keith Ward’s free-kick was off-target. UCD continued to work hard and constantly tested Brush with a barrage of crosses, the best of which was from substitute Brian Shorthall in the 62nd minute. His ball in was met by UCD captain Evan McMillan, but his header rebounded off the post and eventually to safety.
The Bit o’ Red were happy to play on the break now and looked very dangerous, with N’do orchestrating attacks from all over the pitch.
Good work by Amond saw N’do find space in the box - he squared the ball to Dillon, but the winger’s effort was straight at Brennan in the UCD goal.
Mulhall fired across goal with 22 minutes remaining, but no UCD striker could connect.
The Bit o’ Red were almost out of sight in the 72nd minute when N’do found Dillon on the edge of the box and he slipped the ball into Russell, however his low left-footed shot went past the far post.
Shorthall and Evan McMillan forced Brush into two fine saves with 14 minutes remaining, the Sligo goal was standing firm but UCD continued to ask questions.
Gary McCabe almost rounded Brennan in the UCD goal shortly after but the goalkeeper just got to the ball ahead of the substitute.
Rovers were reduced to 10-men after Keane went in hard on Nangle and Declan Hanney brandished the red card.
Greg Bolger was also sent off after a melee in the Sligo box in added time.
That was the end of UCD’s efforts to get back into the game, allowing Rovers to claim all three points in a very entertaining encounter in Belfield.
UCD: Billy Brennan, Sean Harding (Brian Shorthall 54), Andy Boyle, Evan McMillan, Ciaran Nangle (Dwayne Wilson 88), Keith Ward (Graham Rusk 54), Greg Bolger, Paul Corry, Chris Mulhall, Ciaran Kilduff, David McMillan.
Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush, Danny Ventre, Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Iarfhliath Davoren, John Dillon, John Russell (Conor O‘Grady 77), Richie Ryan, Eoin Doyle (Gary McCabe 61), Joesph N’do, Padraig Amond (Paul Whelan 88).
