Airtricity League wrap McCormack proves the difference as St Pat’s see off UCD
over 3 years in The Irish Times
UCD 1 St Patrick’s Athletic 2
Teenager Ben McCormack scored and provided an assist for Joe Redmond’s late, late winner as lacklustre St Pat’s came from behind to earn a first win in five games at the UCD Bowl.
The result was harsh on the Students who remain rooted to the foot of the table without a win in 11 games. Defender Redmond struck with just a minute of normal time to play, shooting to the net from McCormack’s corner.
Both sides made five changes from defeats on Friday, the stand-outs being UCD winger Liam Kerrigan along with Saints’ striker Eoin Doyle dropping to the bench.
Despite owning the ball from the kick-off, and winning five corners, St Pat’s trooped off at the break without having worked Students’ 19-year-old goalkeeper, Kian Moore, on his debut.
The only time the UCD defence looked worried came a minute before the interval when Tunde Owolabi’s header from skipper Ian Bermingham’s cross dropped wide of the far post.
Though St Pat’s introduced Eoin Doyle and Billy King midway through the second half, it was UCD who finally sparked the game to life on 70 minutes with the lead goal.
The lively Collie Whelan found a pocket of space to pick out Dylan Duffy. With the winger’s low drive merely parried by Joseph Anang, Whelan sprinted in to drive home the rebound for his second goal of the season.
The lead lasted just five minutes though, as 19-year-old McCormack won a penalty when fouled by fellow substitute Kerrigan. And though Moore went the right way to parry Eoin Doyle’s spot kick with his legs, McCormack drilled home the loose ball.
UCD: Moore; Gallagher, Boore, Todd, Osam; Farrell (Ryan 72), Brennan (Kerrigna, h-t); Gill (Duffy 53), Verdon (Higgins h-t), Caffrey (Dignam 64); Whelan.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Anang; Scott, Redmond, Grivosti, Bermingham; Burns (King 64), Forrester, McClelland (McCormack 72), M. Doyle; Coughlan (O’Reilly 81), Owolabi (E. Doyle 64).
Referee: Damien MacGraith (Mayo).
Finn Harps 0 Sligo Rovers 1
Former Finn Harps player Karl O’Sullivan scrambled home what proved to be the winner as Sligo Rovers notched up their first win in six outings in the north-west derby at Finn Park. Harps are still seeking a first home win of the season, and had to play second fiddle to Rovers for much of a game that only came to life in brief spurts.
Mark McGinley made a trio of saves in the first half to deny David Cawley, Mark Byrne - after a great through ball from the bustling Cawley - and also Max Mata with the follow-up.
But Rovers took the lead on 26 minutes with the ubiquitous Cawley again involved as his ball across a crowded goalmouth eventually came off the lurking O’Sullivan after Regan Donelan was unable to clear.
Harps boss Ollie Horgan may have given a stern team-talk at the break but his side continued to struggle for much of the second half, and the Bit O’ Red continued to look the better bet to alter the scoreline.
However, Harps finally injected some zest into the game as it went into the final 15 minutes when substitute Luke Rudden had a number of efforts blocked. At the other end Jordan Hamilton forced McGinley into a fine save ten minutes from time and Niall Morahan fired just wide.
In between, the home side missed a glorious chance to equalise on 84 minutes when Filip Mahaljevic found Mark Timlin inside the box but he screwed his shot wide.
Harps piled on the pressure late and it was helter-skelter stuff inside the Sligo goalmouth but Liam Buckley’s side held on.
Finn Harps: McGinley; Boyle, Alkan, Slevin, Donelan; Hery, McNamee, Connolly (Rudden 18), Timlin; Mihaljevic, Mahdy (Devers 69).
Sligo Rovers: McGinty; Horgan, Pijnaker, Blaney, Kirk; Morahan, McDonnell; O’Sullivan, Cawley (Bolger 86), Byrne (Fitzgerald 75); Mata (Hamilton, 59).
Referee: P McLaughlin (Monaghan).