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Date Time League Season
12 August 2022 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2022

Match Report

Caffrey strike aids UCD survival hopes

Evan Caffrey hit a wonder strike as ten-man UCD came from behind to record a crucial win over Finn Harps this evening at the UCD Bowl.

It's a win that sees them leapfrog Harps in the table as the relegation battle takes another twist, a dramatic tie action at both ends but the students will leave much the happier having taken their chances well.

Harps had led early but just minutes later UCD were back in the tie, tempers flared in the second half but despite finishing with ten men the students hung on for a valuable three points.

Both threatened early but it was Lorcan Healy who was the busiest of the keepers, he was on hand to save from Filip Mihaljevic, his header from a Regan Donelon cross was straight at the net minder for a comfortable save.

Mihaljevic would see the net ripple minutes later, however, Dara Keane was penalised for a foul inside the box, the referee pointed to the spot and the big forward made no mistake sending Healy the wrong way for an early lead.

Just minutes later UCD were level, James McKewon tipped a shot from Keane onto the post, the follow up from Donal Higgins worked wonders, a smart poacher's finish saw them back on level terms, Harps would feel like it came from absolutely nothing.

Sam Todd and Mark Dignam both had chances to put the students ahead, while at the other end Eric McWoods fired just over the bar, the Harps keeper was needed to be at his best late in the half for a crucial stop to keep it level, as neither could be separated at the break.

Tempers flared early in the second half, very few chances but Jack Heaney was carded for a challenge which saw the captain taken off, Keane was shown a second yellow card for a coming together with Conor Tourish, he looked to have elbowed the Harps man as they were down to 10 men after 52 minutes.

If anything the man advantage for Harps did not phase the students, six minutes after the red card they would find the net to lead for the first time, Evan Caffrey struck an effort from range which flew past McKewon into the back of the net, a huge goal for their relegation hopes, but a sensational strike from the third generation UCD player.

Harps pressed but failed to create a chance to warrant a goal, UCD had chances to put a third past the Donegal side but great defending and goalkeeping saw the game end 2-1. Plenty of heart by the ten man Dublin outfit in Belfield.

UCD AFC
1Lorcan Healy Goalkeeper 45'
2Michael Gallagher Defender
3Evan Osam Defender 74'
6Jack Keaney 15 Midfielder 50'
8Mark Dignam 26 Defender
9Evan Caffrey Forward 58'
11Dylan Duffy Midfielder
17Dara Keane Midfielder 16'
52'
18Donal Higgins 21 Midfielder 21'
22Sam Todd Defender
27Tommy Lonergan Midfielder
16Kian Moore Goalkeeper
4Jamie Duggan Defender
10John Haist Forward
15Alex Dunne 6 Defender
19Matthew Scott Midfielder
21Sean Brennan 18 Midfielder 90+2'
25Daniel Norris Forward
26John Ryan 8 Midfielder 90'
30Alex Nolan Midfielder

Finn Harps
25James McKeown Goalkeeper
2Conor Tourish Defender 38'
3Regan Donelon 22 Defender
4Rob Slevin Defender 24'
6Ryan Connolly Midfielder 90'
7Gary Boylan Defender
8Eric McWoods Forward
11Barry McNamee 18 Midfielder
17Elie-Gael N’Zeyi Midfielder
24Ethan Boyle Defender
33Filip Mihaljevic Forward 17'
99Gavin Mulreany Goalkeeper
10Mark Timlin Midfielder
12Luke Rudden Forward
14Adam McCaffrey Midfielder
15Jose Carrillo 56 Defender
16Harry Nicolson Defender
18Robert Jones 11 Forward
22Ryan Rainey 3 Midfielder
56Dylan Duncan 15 Midfielder

Timeline

17. Dara Keane 16' 
 17' 33. Filip Mihaljevic
13. Donal Higgins 21' 
 24' 4. Rob Slevin
 38' 4. Conor Tourish
19. Lorcan Healy 45' 
6. Jack Keaney 50' 
Jack Keaney
Alex Dunne		50' 
17. Dara Keane 52' 
27. Evan Caffrey 58' 
 62'Barry McNamee
Robert Jones
Donal Higgins
Sean Brennan		72' 
3. Evan Osam 74' 
 83'Regan Donelon
Ryan Rainey
 83'Jose Carrillo
Dylan Duncan
Mark Dignam
John Ryan		88' 
6. Sean Brennan 90+2' 
26. John Ryan 90' 
 90' 6. Ryan Connolly
  • 96'

    All over at the Bowl, UCD hang on with 10 men to get a big win, three huge points to give them hope of not being automatically relegated

  • 94'

    McKeown off his line to stop Brennan running in, UCD look to hold on

  • 90'

    Six minutes added on as more tempers flare with more cards shown

  • 88'

    John Ryan replaces Mark Dignam for the students

  • 85'

    Tommy Lonergan looks to make it 3-1 but his effort fails to beat McKeown

  • 84'

    Harps make a late double change Ryan Rainey and Dylan Ducan come in for Regan Donelon and Jose Carrillo

  • 74'

    Evan Osam is carded for Harps

  • 72'

    Sean Brennan comes in for Donal Higgins as we have had another water break

  • 62'

    Harps make a change as Robert Jones is in for Barry McNamee

  • 58'

    EVAN CAFFERY WHAT A GOAL, UCD LEAD

  • 55'

    Tourish is forced off after the incident with Keane, Jose Carrillo in to replace him

  • 52'

    Dara Keane is sent off for UCD, looked to have the elbow in on Tourish and they are down to ten, Tourtish down receiving treatment

  • 50'

    UCD forced into a change as Jack Heaney is forced off, Alex Dunne replaces him, Heaney also carded as his tackle sees him the worse for wear

  • 45'

    Harps will kick us off in this second half

  • 46'

    Half Time at the Bowl, drama at both ends sees the game tied at the break, very entertaining it has to be said, more action to come over the next 45 odd minutes

  • 45'

    Lorcan Healy is carded looks to have handled the ball outside his area after coming just out of the box while catching an effort

  • 38'

    Conor Tourish joins Rob Slevin in the book, while Dara Keane is the third man booked from the penalty earlier in the half

  • 32'

    Mark Dignam with another big effort for UCD, again goes wide

  • 26'

    UCD go up the other end and Sam Todd heads over

  • 25'

    100 mile and hour stuff here as Harps have another attempt but the shot goes over

  • 21'

    WE ARE LEVEL AGAIN FROM NOWHERE WHAT!, Donal Higgins reacts well after the ball comes off the post and he pokes home

  • 17'

    Filip Mihaljevic sends Healy the wrong way, advantage Harps

  • 17'

    PENALTY FROM NOWHERE

  • 8'

    Harps test Healy early but straight at the keeper

  • 1'

    Underway in a sun-drenched Belfield

  • Less than ten minutes until we kick off as the anticipation builds in Belfield

  • UCD can claw back their opponents if they can get something from tonight, a win may be a stretch seeing they have just two wins, but four points from six over Harps makes them confident of a similar result this evening

  • Harps looking for two wins in a row following their exploits over Drogheda last time out, they have a great squad to get them over the line, but a poor record over the students this year is not ideal

  • The battle to avoid relegation is the agenda at the UCD Bowl this evening, as UCD host Finn Harps, two points separate them, but the next 90 minutes will tell a lot for their seasons, my name is Diarmuid Kearney and I will provide full text commentary of this evenings game

Past Meetings
(Round 15)
0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v UCD AFC

(Round 2)
0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC v Finn Harps

0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v UCD AFC

1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC v Finn Harps FC

3 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v UCD AFC

3 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC v Finn Harps FC

Ground

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

Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.