Wexford FC will go into their FAI Cup semi-final meeting with Drogheda United with a pep in their step after goals in each half from Thomas Oluwa and Mikie Rowe saw them pick up a crucial three points in their quest to make the SSE Airtricity League First Division play-off places.
Oluwa tucked away a penalty in customary confident fashion in the 39th minute in Ferrycarrig Park to give them the advantage at the break and Rowe sealed the deal with their second goal with less than 20 minutes remaining.
UCD's cause wasn’t helped when Cathal McCarthy was given his marching orders not long before the break having been shown a second yellow card.
The Students began brightly enough and had the first sight of goal with just four minutes on the clock, but Donal Higgin’s effort was comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Alex Moody.
Wexford threatened in the 14th minute when Darragh Levingston sent in a cross, but Aaron Dobbs failed to make a telling connection with his head.
The visitors had a gilt-edged opportunity to break the deadlock moments later when they broke quickly from a James Crawford free-kick. The Wexford defence was outnumbered as Adam Brennan hared forward and picked out Sam Norval to his right, but Moody got down well to make a good save.
James Keddy’s men were next to go close as Luka Lovic picked out Mikie Rowe with a slide-rule pass and he cut the ball back for Dobbs, who saw his effort cleared off the line by Luke O’Regan.
The hosts were soon ahead, however, when referee Declan Toland awarded a penalty after spotting an infringement as Crawford was whipping in a corner. Up stepped Oluwa and he never looked like missing, assuredly stroking the ball to the left-hand corner of the net.
Things went from bad to worse for UCD when McCarthy was red-carded and Wexford looked determined to rub further salt into the wounds before the break, with Mikie Rowe forcing a save out of Kian Moore from the resulting free, Oluwa seeing an effort blocked and Crawford drilling a shot wide.
Rowe warmed the goalkeeper’s gloves again shortly after the change of ends, while Divin Isamala drove forward and skewed a low shot wide and Thomas Oluwa turned and fired off target as the home side tried to quickly put the game to bed with the advantage of an extra man.
Mikie Rowe had another effort on target as they continued to seek the insurance of a second goal and, soon after Darragh Levingston had been denied by Moore, the Campile native did get his goal in the 72nd minute, finishing from close range.
A Darragh Levingston shot was deflected out for a corner, while Adam Lennon was narrowly wide of the right post with a daisy-cutter from outside the area in the 88th minute as Wexford attempted to put the icing on the cake, but they will be happy with their lot as they move up to fourth in the table.
UCD host near neighbours Bray Wanderers next Friday night, while Wexford will be dreaming of booking a place at the Aviva Stadium when they travel to Drogheda for their FAI Cup semi-final on Sunday, October 6.
Wexford FC: Alex Moody; Divin Isamala, Lewis Temple, Seán McHale, James Crawford; Darragh Levingston, Luka Lovic (Kaylem Harnett 88), Kian Corbally (Ben Lynch 88); Thomas Oluwa (Cian Curtis 83), Aaron Dobbs (capt.) (Adam Lennon 83), Mikie Rowe (Ethan Boyle 74).
UCD: Kian Moore; Luke O’Regan, Éanna Clancy (capt.), Cathal McCarthy, Harry Curtis; Donal Higgins (Danu Kinsella Bishop 71), Adam Wells, Adam Brennan (Adam Verdon 59); Sam Norval (Matthew Alonge (83), Hugh Parker (Michael Raggett 71), Michael McCullagh (Niall Holohan 46).
Referee: Declan Toland.
Elsewhere in the First Division, Bray Wanderers and Cork City played out a corker at the Carlisle Grounds, sharing six goals equally in a cracking 3-3 draw. Sean Maguire got Cork's first in between a pair of Cristian Magerusan strikes for the home side.
Ruairi Keating and then Maguire again had the visitors 3-2 up before Ben Feeney's 78th-minute equaliser ensured a deserved share of the spoils for Bray.
Despite trailing after 20 minutes, Cobh Ramblers beat Athlone Town 2-1 in Limerick thanks to goals from Jason Abbott and Brendan Frahill which made Dean Ebbe's opener for Town irrelevant.
Both teams finished with 10 men as Charlie O'Brien picked up two yellows for the away side and Athlone's Dylan Hand was hit with a straight red card in hte 84th minute.
Kerry FC were held 1-1 at home by Finn Harps. Patrick Ferry put the Harps ahead in the 68tyh minute but a Sean McGrath equaliser restored parity with 11 minutes remaining.
In the night's remaining game, Treaty United were 3-1 winners at home to Longford Town. Lee Molloy put the home side ahead on the half-hour mark only for Emre Topcu to equaliser for Longford on the troke of half-time.
Treaty made sure of the win in the second half when first Adam O'Halloran netted in the 67th minute before David Tarmey secured the spoils in injury time.
