2 v 2 
UCD AFCDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 April 2022 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2022 |
Match Report
Matas the Man for Sligo as Rovers earn draw with UCD
Sligo Rovers wrapped up their trio of home matches with a 2-2 draw against UCD in the Showgrounds this evening, a Max Mata brace equal to goals from Colm Whelan and Evan Caffrey.
The Bit O’Red nabbed the opener with just 22 minutes gone on the clock but couldn’t sustain the lead in the second half when Whelan struck from the edge of the box around the 56th minute. Caffrey later supplemented in the 77th minute, with Mata adding a second just minutes from full time.
Both sides pushed on for a winner but it wasn’t the surface, the result marking UCD’s fourth point and fourth draw of the year, while Liam Buckley’s Sligo have now gone four games without a victory.
Jack Keaney and Liam Kerrigan’s return to the Northwest was made glaring obvious with some physical welcomes in the opening exchanges, and although UCD had some threatening play it was Sligo who hesitantly dominated in the first half.
Mata’s goal came when he got a head to a Sligo corner after some good play from Adam McDonnell and Robbie McCourt in the build up.
Dylan Duffy’s freekicks that didn’t hinder Ed McGinty and half chances from Caffrey were all that UCD put out in retaliation, meaning the scoreline remained 1-0 heading into the pause.
Rovers started well in the second 45, although when Whelan’s long-range effort hit the back of the net The Students played their way more into the game. They later doubled their tally in the 77th minute when Caffrey scored.
Late on though Mata rescued a point for Sligo and it looked like they were even to go on to win it with some menacing attempts from Will Fitzgerald and substitute David Cawley. Lorcan Healy though put in a massive shift for UCD, as did their entire back line as they ran down the clock.
Next up Sligo go back on the road as they face Dundalk in Oriel Park, while UCD host St Patrick’s Athletic.
Timeline
| 22. Max Mata | 21' | |
| Robbie McCourt Paddy Kirk | 45' | |
| 56' | 11. Colm Whelan | |
| 72' | Donal Higgins Sean Brennan | |
| Jordan Hamilton Seamas Keogh | 74' | |
| 77' | 27. Evan Caffrey | |
| 78' | 11. Colm Whelan | |
| 80' | 11. Dylan Duffy | |
| 22. Max Mata | 85' | |
| Adam McDonnell David Cawley | 85' | |
| 85' | Dylan Duffy Alex Nolan | |
| 90' | Liam Kerrigan Adam Lennon |
Past Meetings
|
(2nd Round)
1 - 3FAI Cup
UCD Bowl University College Dublin AFC v Sligo Rovers |
0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Sligo Rovers FC |
5 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v UCD AFC |
0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Sligo Rovers FC |
1 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v UCD AFC |
4LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v UCD AFC |
1LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Sligo Rovers FC |
5LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v UCD AFC |
Officials
| Referee | Assistants | Fourth Official |
|---|---|---|
| Derek Tomney | Darren Corcoran Dermot Broughton | Paul McLaughlin |
Ground
| The Showgrounds |
|---|
| The Showgrounds - Sligo Rovers F.C., Magheraboy Road, Knappagh Beg, Sligo, Sligo Municipal Borough District, County Sligo, Connacht, F91 P523, Ireland |
Alanna Cunnane
Alanna is currently pursuing her studies in journalism at Dublin City University and writes regularly for her local media outlets in Sligo.
All over. It ends 2-2 in The Showgrounds
Chances from Cawley and Fitzgerald in the last few minutes. 4 minutes added time. Adam Lennon on for Liam Kerrigan
MATA GOAL! 2-2
UCD corner
Duffy yellow carded
Whelan given a yellow
Goal Evan Caffrey. UCD go 2-1 up
Seamus Keogh on for Hamilton
Sean Brennan on for Donal Higgins for UCD.
Shot from Kirk after a good ball from Buckley
UCD with plenty of the ball here in recent minutes.
Kerrigan with a hazardous attempt but it isn't on target. Sligo letting UCD in more and more
Buckley receiving treatment
Banks with a shot but its well covered by Healy
Kerrigan back in flying form down the right wing
Whelan with a goal for UCD! 1-1 now
Corner Sligo
Banks with the shot but its wide
Fitzgerald's corner only yields another one
Kerrigan down injured now in the centre circle
Mata shot on goal, McDonnell looks to have been injured in the build up
Paddy Kirk replaces Robbie McCourt at halftime
Halftime. Sligo head into the break 1-0 up after Max Mata grabbed his first Rovers' goal
McGinty comes out to pluck a ball but himself and Whelan collide in the process. 1 minute added time announced
Caffery ball into the box but Buckley the better of it
UCD pressing deep into Sligo's half now. McGinty forced into his first save at the end of a Duffy strike
Duffy shot on the left wing with a chance but he skies it
Whelan and Caffery with some good link up play on the edge of the box, they can't get a shot off though
Freekick UCD, Duffy takes it
After a good passage from Sligo much of the ball is currently being played in the middle of the park in the last few minutes
Opportunity for McDonnell but its well blocked
McDonell chips the ball out wide to Mata but there's too much on it and it's a UCD kick out
Fitzgerald sticks in a dangerous cross but Sligo can't get a touch to it
Kerrigan speeds past a few Sligo players and three Rovers men have to step in to stop him
Mata with the header! He puts Sligo 1-0 up off the corner
McCourt puts Mata through and he tries to push forward before going back to Robby, out for a Rovers corner
Pijnaker holds up Whelan and its out for a Sligo goal kick
Keaney's bad touch releases Mata who finds Fitzgerald but he trips and UCD regain the ball. Only for a few seconds however as Sligo throw in another cross but The Students get away with it as Gallagher is fouled in his own box
Pijnaker tries to locate Mata but it ends up over the sideline
McCourt's stray ball hits Kerrigan in the face and there's a slight stoppage
Buckley attempted long ball goes out over the endline
Toll tackle on Hamilton warrants a Sligo freekick
Freekick UCD just outside the halfway line
Hamilton chance! Healy does well to save it as he was through one on one there
Bolger cross is well picked out of the air by Healy
Higgins tackles McDonell in the box and its out for a Sligo corner
McCourt trying to work the long ball but yet to properly come off for Rovers
UCD with the majority of possession here the last few minutes. Trying to get away on the break
Bolger letting Kerrigan know he's here
Corner to Rovers
Fitzgerald plays Bolger through as Rovers have started this one with high tempo.
Underway in The Showgrounds
Looking ahead to the game manager Buckley isn’t under any illusions as to how crucial it is that his team collect a result and “improve [their] overall performance level” against a unit which are “always a threat and have such good young talent in their team.” “While the results didn’t go for us, they were two very tight games and as I have said many times the first goal in this league is important so we will be looking to come out do that tomorrow night and attack from the start” he says. “As the table shows it is so tight and we want to make sure if a gap does start appearing that we are on the right side of it.”
The last time the sides encountered was in August 2020, the FAI Cup second round clash seeing Rovers progress on a scoreline of 3-1. There Paul Doyle netted first for UCD, but it was Sligo who had the last laugh when Kyle Callan McFadden, Ronan Coughlan and Jesse Devers were on target for the Yeat’s County men.
Sligo academy graduates Jack Keaney, Liam Kerrigan and Colm Whelan have all been shining lights for them last year in earning their promotion to the Premier Division and so far this year too, Whelan in particular one to watch as the First Division’s top scorer last year.
On the other hand, UCD are coming off the back of a 2-0 loss to current leaders Derry, a Will Patching freekick and a Ronan Boyce goal the undoing of them at The Bowl.
Tonight marks the Bit O’Red’s third consecutive home fixture, although the spell hasn’t gone so much to plan for Liam Buckley’s men. Most recently they fell victim to Bohemians on Tuesday, a lone strike from Liam Burt enough to earn the Gypsies the triumph on the road.
The students are yet to pick up a victory this year but have three points to their name having shared the spoils with Finn Harps, Shelbourne and Bohemians, while Sligo have 12 points accumulated but lie behind St Patrick’s Athletic, Shamrock Rovers and Derry City in the table after series eight.
Fourth place Sligo Rovers will look to turn around on two successive defeats in The Showgrounds this evening, taking on basement UCD at 7:45pm. My name is Alanna Cunnane and I'll be bringing you tonight's match commentary
The teams are in! Sligo's Jordan Hamilton comes in for Morahan in midfield, while for UCD Evan Caffrey, Dylan Duffy, Alex Dunne and Donal Higgins return to the lineup. Jack Keaney and Liam Kerrigan are taking on their old club!