Shamrock Rovers extended their lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity League table to five points with a hard fought 1-0 win against a battling Students side who might have nicked something late on.
In a game that should have been more comfortable, Hoops fans won't mind when they look at the league standings, despite their side missing a handul of chances on the evening.
With the in-form Candystripes breathing down their neck, Stephen Badley's charges knew the margin for error was slim at best, and with the gap just two points following their forgetful 0-0 draw away at Shelbourne, the pressure was on the Champions to get a result.
Prior to their somewhat shock FAI Cup Quarter final defeat at Treaty United, the Students produced one of their best results of the season defeating high flying Dundalk to move themselves off the foot of the table.
Their energetic, high-pressing game had the look of a side who had 10 days to prepare but the failure to retain possession in attacking areas meant they were powerless to stop the waves of Rovers attacks.
Jack Byrne and Graham Burke went close early on before Neil Farrugia opened the scoring after just 13 minutes. Front man Rory Gaffney burst down the left and into the area, before playing an inviting outside of the boot into the danger area, where up popped wing back Farrugia who bundled home.
Not content with the one, Rovers continued to press and almost doubled their lead through a thunderous Burke strike from the left-hand side, having linked up sharply with strike partner Gaffney.
Scorer almost turned provider as Farrugia cut inside from the right wing before slipping in Gaffney, but the striker opted to smash the ball straight at the brave Healy with the goal at his mercy.
Having failed to recover fully from the Gaffney strike, Healy was replaced at the break by Kian Moore. And the substitute was forced into action straight away as ex-Preston front man Burke smashed another effort towards the near post.
From the resulting corner, Burke thought he had doubled his side's lead only for the flag to go up, as the home side ramped up the pressure. The chances continued to rain on the Students goal but it was them who went closest to scoring next.
Dylan Duffy’s beautifully curled effort from the edge of the area looked destined for the top corner, only to be denied by an incredible finger tipped save from Mannus at full stretch. The natives became restless with the frustrated groans continuing to ring around Tallaght at the Hoops' lack of killer instinct in the final third.
Jack Byrne went close with a left footed effort that narrowly missed the target, before Lee Grace saw his header miss the foot of the upright by inches. Then, right on the stroke of full time, substitute Aaron Greene fluffed his lines as a game that really should have been more comfortable drew to a close.
The Hoops fixture congestion shows no sign of letting up as they move on to face a tough trip to The Showgrounds this weekend before a massive double header with Molde in the Europa conference League, sandwiched either side of a home clash with Shelbourne.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus, Sean Kavanagh, Lee Grace, Daniel Cleary, Sean Gannon, Neil Farrugia, Gary O'Neill (Aaron Greene, 64’), Dylan Watts (Carl Lennox, 90’), Jack Byrne, Graham Burke (Ronan Finn 85’), Rory Gaffney
Subs not used: Leon Pohls, Richie Towell, Chris McCann, Gideon Tetteh, Kieran Cruise, Aidomo Emakhu
UCD AFC: Lorcan Healy (Kian Moore, 45’), Alex Dunne (Michael Gallagher, 75’), Sam Todd, Jack Keaney, Evan Osam, Alex Nolan (Harry O’Connor, 84’), Evan Caffrey, Dara Keane, Donal Higgins (John Haist, 69’), Sean Brennan, Dylan Duffy
Subs not used: Mark Dignam, Jamie Duggan, Tobi Jinad, Aaron Corish
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan
