A goal thirteen minutes from time settled this one as Drogheda recorded their first win over UCD at the fifth time of asking this season. Alan McNally rose above everyone else to head home Joe Kendrick’s corner for what proved to be the winner.
Both sides had their chances in a pretty even first half that saw Michael Daly’s shot-come-cross for the home side call keeper Billy Brennan into action while at the other end Ciaran Kilduff’s header was cleared from the line by Corey Treacy.
Paul Corry should have scored for the Students but guided a free header wide before a Joe Kendrick free was flicked on by Daly to Paul Crowley who saw Brennan make another fine stop.
With 32 minutes gone the home side was awarded a penalty when Ryan Brennan was upended by Ciaran Nangle, however, Kendrick hammered the spot kick off the post and wide. Right on the half-time whistle United net-minder Paul Murphy raced from his line to bravely save at Kilduff’s feet as he bore down on goal.
Drogheda saw a number of chances come and go at the start of the second half as Colm Smyth was denied by Brennan. Daly’s header came off a defender as it sailed towards the net and both Brennan and O’Connor clipped shots narrowly wide.
However, Kilduff should have broken the deadlock for UCD when he guided a header just off target and then had a shot parried back to him by Murphy which he struck off the post.
With 77 minutes gone Drogheda struck for a deserved winner that saw them record a rare win on home turf.
Drogheda United: 23 Murphy, 2Treacy (20 Smyth h/t), 3 Kendrick, 5 McNally, 6 McGill E, 7 McGill B (17 Kerr h/t), 10 Crowley, 11 Flood, 14 O’Connor, 16 Daly, 19 Brennan.
Booked: Crowley 35, Brennan 82.
UCD: 1 Brennan, 2 Shortall, 3 Nangle ( 12 Harding 78),4 Boyle, 5 McMillan, 6 Bolger, 7 Ward ( 15 Rusk 64), 8 Corry, 9 Kilduff, 10 Mulhall, 11 Wilson.
Booked: Corry 85 Referee: A. Kelly (Cork)
