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Date Time League Season
19 May 2022 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2022

Match Report

Shamrock Rovers deliver at the UCD Bowl

It was a convincing win for champions Shamrock Rovers at the UCD Bowl as the hosts UCD were well beaten.

The Hoops dominated the game from minute one with Jack Byrne dictating play from deep. It was Byrne's cross that met the head of Cotter which opened the scoring inside 10 minutes.

An exceptional through ball by Gaffney doubled the visitors lead when Mandroiu finished off the chance.

UCD defended admirably with Sam Todd doing his best to sustain the scoreline to a respectable result. 

When Jack Byrne went off injured before half time, Rovers creativity dwindled slightly although sub Aaron Greene did provide the assist for Gaffney's goal.

Since the third, neither side looked overly interested after an array of subs and the Hoops content on just keeping possession.

There was triple substitutions for both sides in the second half with Rovers resting players with the game effectively won and Myler using the chance to freshen up. Dylan Watts impressed in the second half yet Rovers failed to create many chances to extend their lead.

It was a solid performance for captain Jack Keaney in the UCD side who kept their midfield together amid the chaos of the rotations that Rovers players in the middle of the park did throughout the game.

Kerrigan huffed and puffed up front but you could see the frustration of the striker in the half. 

The Hoops managed to retain the ball for the vast majority of the second half and Alan Mannus was untested in their net.

It was important for Rovers to put a marker down and extend their lead to seven points at the top of the table as Derry City are yet to play. 

In a week mired in controversy regarding the match fixing scandal, the quality of some of Rovers play was a great advertisement for the league.

UCD AFC

16Kian Moore Goalkeeper
22Sam Todd Defender
29Eric Yoro Defender
3Evan Osam Defender
6Jack Keaney Midfielder
14Eoin Farrell 27 Forward
23Adam Verdon 9 Midfielder
26John Ryan 11 Midfielder
7Liam Kerrigan Midfielder
30Alex Nolan 17 Midfielder
1Lorcan Healy Goalkeeper
2Michael Gallagher Defender
4Harry McEvoy Defender
8Mark Dignam Defender
9Evan Caffrey 23 Forward
11Dylan Duffy 26 Midfielder
17Dara Keane 30 Midfielder
18Donal Higgins 19 Midfielder
27Tommy Lonergan 14 Midfielder
19Lennon Gill 18 Forward

Shamrock Rovers

1Alan Mannus Goalkeeper
2Sean Gannon Defender
2Andy Lyons 23 Defender
3Sean Hoare Defender
4Roberto Lopes Defender
29Jack Byrne 9 Midfielder 28'
14Daniel Mandriou Midfielder 17'
31'
17Richie Towell 38 Midfielder
20Rory Gaffney 16 Forward 41'
6Barry Cotter 27 Defender 7'
7Dylan Watts Midfielder
9Aaron Greene 29 Forward
10Graham Burke Forward
11Sean Kavanagh Defender
16Gary O’Neill 20 Midfielder
23Neil Farrugia 2 Midfielder
25Leon Pohls Goalkeeper
26Chris McCann Midfielder
27Kieran Cruise 6 Defender
38Aidomo Emakhu 17 Midfielder
  • 90'

    Three minutes added

  • 89'

    Rovers have a corner as they look to extend their lead

  • 68'

    Lonergan and Higgins subbed on for Gill and Farrell to put some impetus into the tie for Myler.

  • 64'

    Rovers toying with the Students as frustration grows for the host who cannot win the ball back despite efforts of captain Keaney.

  • 60'

    Watts has been one of the standouts in this second half which has turned into a bit of a lull.

  • 59'

    Cruise makes his second appearance as opening scorer Cotter makes way

  • 54'

    Triple sub for the College now as Verdon, Nolan, and Ryan are out for Caffrey, Duffy, and Keane

  • 51'

    Rovers continue to probe through Watts yet fail to create chances

  • 48'

    Second half has began at walking pace as UCD remain unchanged. Think Myler would bite your hand off for a 3-0 result at this stage

  • Rovers planning a triple substitution at the beginning of the second half with Farrugia, O'Neill, and Emakhu replacing Towell, Gaffeny, and Lyons

  • Half time entertainment is provided by a local schoolboy team playing 5-aside matches. The non-bibs are currently winning!

  • 45'

    Half time. 3-0 Rovers, completely dominant performance.

  • 45'

    It's beginning to resemble more of a training match for Rovers in the dying stages of the half.

  • 41'

    Adam Verdon slipped deep in his own half and substitute Greene capitalize to feed in scorer Gaffney.

  • 39'

    Byrne has been substituted for Aaron Greene after sustaining a knock.

  • 31'

    Yellow for Mandroiu after another unnecessary sliding tackle.

  • 28'

    Jack Byrne goes into the referee's book after a badly timed tackle on John Ryan who was marauding from wing back.

  • 25'

    UCD strongest period of the match as a string of passes take the sting out of the affair.

  • 21'

    Kerrigan blasts over the bar for UCD's first real chance.

  • 19'

    Todd has been solid at the back for Myler's side winning multiple headers from Hoops' crosses

  • 17'

    Brilliant goal for Rovers. Mandroiu finishes off on the slide from an exceptional penetration pass with the outside of Gaffney's foot from the left wing

  • 15'

    Spaces opening all over the park for Rovers' playmakers Mandroiu, Byrne, and Towell and they pull the Students apart up to the final third.

  • 10'

    Kerrigan fires shot at Mannus. Keeper untroubled.

  • 7'

    Goal - Cotter heads in from Byrne cross.

  • Jack Byrne dictating play in the early stages. Feeding in Towell who blasted over the bar from range.

  • The Hoops dominating possession as expected with UCD only briefly being lent the ball.

  • We've kicked off here at Belfield.

  • And we're off.

  • Teams are making their way onto the pitch to much fanfare.

  • It's certainly a bigger crowd than the Bowl usually experiences as more and more fans continue to filter in. The vast majority are sporting green not blue, strangely enough!

  • Team news is in here. Liam Kerrigan is leading the line in Colm Whelan's absence supported by the creative Adam Verdon in midfield. Rover's aren't pulling any punches with Jack Byrne, Ritchie Towell, and Danny Mandroiu in the lineup.

  • The teams are being put through their paces in the warm-up on a glorious evening in south Dublin.

  • It's Callum Buchan here reporting from Belfield Bow; where UCD face league leaders Shamrock Rovers.

Past Meetings

(Round 1)
3 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v UCD AFC

8 - 2
eLOI Group C
Online Event

Shamrock Rovers v UCD AFC

(Series 14)
2 - 5
LOI Men's First Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v University College Dublin AFC

(Series 5)
3 - 1
LOI Men's First Division
UCD Bowl

University College Dublin AFC v Shamrock Rovers

0 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC v Shamrock Rovers FC

7 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v UCD AFC

0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC v Shamrock Rovers FC

3 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v UCD AFC

3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v UCD AFC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC v Shamrock Rovers FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v UCD AFC

Ground

UCD Bowl
UCD Bowl, Greenfield Park, Greenfield, Roebuck, Clonskeagh-Belfield ED, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, County Dublin, Leinster, D04 XT65, Ireland