UCD U19s demolish Shamrock Rovers
24 May 2017 @ 23:01
Southern Elite Division
UCD U19s 4:1 Shamrock Rovers U19s
UCD Bowl Sat 20th May 2017 ko 14:00
2016 U19s Champions came into this latest ‘Dodder Derby’ as current leaders of the Southern Elite Division. The UCD Bowl was looking it’s best on a sunny Saturday afternoon in May as Manager Maciej Tarnogrodski’s side took to field. As some early forays into each others half, The Students got off to a brilliant start after 7 minutes with Conor Crowley sending a direct free kick over the wall into the top corner of Luca Gratzer’s goal. Things got even better for College on 18 mins when forward Sean McDonald robbed a defender and raced clear, deceived a second opponent by using his pace to sprint into the box, commit the goalie and with the outside of his right boot slide the ball home into the bottom right-hand corner.
But the visitors weren’t to be denied their own celebrations when a minute later Dean Dillon shot from outside of the box that beat Conor Kearns. Shamrock Rovers tails were up and minutes after twice came close to an equaliser. Rovers’ Dillon and Aaron Bolger started to pull some strings for the visitors, a cross from the right left Luke Rossiter with a chance at the far post but Darragh Corcoran did enough to prevent him getting a clean shot and the ball went wide of the post. Another chance and Kearns had to be smart to save then Bolger shot over.
UCD’s Jack Ryan tried to put McDonald through on half an hour but the move just broke down, a little later Crowley stood up to a hard challenge and tries a one-two with McDonald but just fails to get the return. At the other end Aaron Dobbs challenged and his header just went over. Dobbs got a better chance later when one and one with Kearns in the box, he shot but UCD’s keeper was equal to it and dived to right to save one-handed for a corner.
The Students tightened their grip on the game in first half injury time. After a passage of possession and pressing the Rovers goal a Crowley corner leads to a foul in front of the box. Crowley’s free kick comes off the wall but is put for another corner. From Conor Crowley’s corner it comes back out to the same man again and his cross is met by Joe Manley whose shot is blocked and falls for McDonald at the back post, he adjusted to shoot into the bottom corner again 3-1. Another great bit of play at The UCD Bowl.
The second half proved a more even affair, UCD put the game to bed when winger Kevin Coffey raced free into the box and hit a clean strike that beat Gratzer. Kearns still had some mopping up to do before the finish but it was another accomplished display from UCD’s U19s. The Students remain top of the Division and can look forward to more heady days over the Summer.
UCD AFC U19s: Conor Kearns, Darragh Corcoran, Mark Dignam, Andy O’Reilly (c), Joe Manley, Luka Lovic, Kevin Coffey (Evan Farrell 87’), Conor Crowley (Dylan Rowe 85’), Sean McDonald, Sean Quinn, Jack Ryan (Cian Ryan 75’)
Shamrock Rovers (starting lineup): Luka Gratzer, Harry Corcoran (c), Sean Callan, Cian Collins, Conor Gleeson,. Richie English, Dean Dillon, Luke Rossiter, James Donna, Aaron Bolger, Aaron Dobbs.