0 v 1 
Drogheda UtdDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 March 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Drogheda Impress Once Again To Down Students At The Bowl
Drogheda United continued their impressive start to the 2023 SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season with a 1-0 victory over a struggling UCD side at the UCD Bowl this evening.
After failing to convert several chances throughout much of the game, a second-half goal from defender Emmanuel Adegboyega was enough to seal all three points for the visitors. Dayle Rooney was a threat all game for the Drogs and it was his delivery from a freekick which set up the eventual winner.
Andy Myler made 4 changes to his UCD side that lost earlier in the week against Derry City including in goal with Kian Moore returning to the side. The changes worked for the first half with some great blocks and saves ensuring the score remained 0-0 at the break.
Darragh Markey was lively for the visitors. He registered the first shot of the game when his half-volley was knocked over the bar before being denied by Dara Keane minutes later. Markey found plenty of space down the right flank when Drogheda turned over possession but by the time the Drogheda number 7 reached the box, Keane was on hand to make a vital block.
Drogheda then used their height advantage to considerable effect. Dayle Rooney found plenty of space down the left wing. Firstly he found Adeboyega whose header was deflected wide. From the resulting corner, it was Conor Keeley’s turn to get a header towards the goal. On this occasion, Moore did well to get low and hold on to the effort.
The visitor's best chance of the half came just after the half-hour mark. Ryan Brennan knocked a lovely through ball down the right side of the UCD box, straight into the path of Freddie Draper. The on-loan striker struck it sweetly with plenty of power but his effort went narrowly over the bar.
The UCD grounds staff worked hard to ensure the match could go ahead tonight but it made for tricky conditions. Harvey O’Brien may blame the conditions when he lost his footing just outside the area in the run-up to the interval, only for the ball to land in the path of Darragh Markey. Once again, the UCD captain Keaney was on hand to make a fantastic diving block of the midfielder's effort.
UCD started the second half much stronger than the first. Just minutes after Ciarán Behan had seen his long-range effort fly over the bar, the College had their first shot on target. A blocked shot from Wells bounced kindly to Mark Dignam who stuck the ball low and hard but it was well held by Colin McCabe in the Drogs net.
However, Drogheda began to establish themselves once again and were almost one up just after the hour mark. A lovely Dayle Rooney cross into the area came within inches of the onrushing Freddie Draper. The English striker threw everything at it but was unable to connect. Then just minutes later, Dylan Grimes was gifted a great chance in the UCD box but was off balance as he struck wide of the post.
The visitors finally broke the deadlock thanks to a fine Adegboyega header after 72 minutes. Gary Deegan won a freekick deep inside the UCD half and up stepped Dayle Rooney whose deliveries had been a constant threat to the Students all game. This time was no different and the cross found the head of Emmanuel Adegboyega. The defender beautifully directed the ball into the far corner to give the Drogs a deserved lead.
UCD’s best chance at an equaliser came with just 10 minutes on the clock when Jack Keaney struck a freekick from over 25 yards out. His effort was destined for the top right-hand corner but Colin McCabe was alive to the danger and tipped the shot around the post.
The substitute Kinsella-Bishop almost set up the incoming Izekor deep into injury time but the cross narrowly missed the UCD man while Draper failed to convert several more chances for Drogheda on the break. However, the one goal was enough to seal the win for Drogheda in a thoroughly deserved win.
Kevin Doherty will be delighted his Drogheda side have earned 8 points in their opening 5 matches of the season with just one defeat so far. They will be full of confidence heading into Thursday's Louth derby against Dundalk in Weaver Park.
Meanwhile, for UCD, their difficult start to the season continues and it doesn't get any easier from here. Next up for the College is an away trip across the city to high-flying Bohemians in Dalymount Park next Friday.
Timeline
Past Meetings
|
(Round 34)
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC 2-1 Drogheda United |
|
(Round 19)
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United 1-1 UCD AFC |
|
(Round 10)
0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Drogheda United |
|
(Round 4)
4 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United v UCD AFC |
|
(Series 12)
1 - 3LOI Men's First Division
UCD Bowl University College Dublin AFC v Drogheda United |
|
(Series 3)
5 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United v University College Dublin AFC |
1LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Drogheda United FC |
4LOI Men's Premier Division
Weavers Park Drogheda United FC v UCD AFC |
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Drogheda United FC |
Ground
| UCD Bowl |
|---|
| UCD Bowl, Greenfield Park, Greenfield, Roebuck, Clonskeagh-Belfield ED, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, County Dublin, Leinster, D04 XT65, Ireland |
Conor Paterson
Conor Paterson is a Dublin-based journalist and student. He is the former editor of the UCD newspaper, the College Tribune, where he is also undertaking an undergraduate degree. Passionate about football on and off the pitch, he is determined to promote UCD AFC and Irish football on the Belfield campus.
Fulltime here at the Bowl UCD AFC 0-1 Drogheda United. Match report to follow.
McCabe punches the Behan delivery clear.
Chance for UCD to get the ball in the box with a freekick in a dangerous position.
Another Drogheda chance goes a begging for Draper!
Draper almost seals it as Drogs take a quick freekick in the UCD half to send the striker away. He fizzes the shot narrowly wide of the far post.
5 additional minutes here at the Bowl as Adegboyega wins an important free to give his side some respite.
Chance! Kinsella-Bishop darts for the byline and does well to get the ball into the box but unfortunately for the College its just behind the incoming Izekor.
Darragh Noone introduced.
Izekor and O'Connor are introduced as UCD search for a winner.
Keaney hits it and it's an excellent save by McCabe to knock it out for a corner.
Freekick in a dangerous position for UCD just over 25 yards out. Keaney and Behan stand over the ball.
Double change for UCD as Kinsella-Bishop and Higgins are introduced.
Drogheda finally get the goal! Deegan earns the freekick deep inside the UCD half. Up steps Rooney to deliver and he finds Adegboyega. The defender beautifully headers it into the far corner to give the visitors the lead!
Daniel Norris replaces Michael Gallagher in the first change of the game.
So close for Grimes who was slightly off balance as he struck from a great position in the UCD box. The students are fortunate to be level here...
So close for Draper who is inches away from getting on the end of Rooney's low cross. The on-loan striker threw everything in an attempt to get there but it wasn't enough.
An uncharacteristic mistake from Dara Keane gifts Markey a great opportunity to deliver the ball into the UCD net but once again nobody is there to get on the end of the cross.
First shot on target for UCD after Well's effort is blocked the ball falls to Dignam whose low effort is saved well by McCabe. Better start to the second half from UCD.
Kian Moore positions himself well to clear the danger after a Keaney mistake gives Brennan the opportunity to slip Draper a ball in behind the UCD defence but the keeper is alive to the danger.
Long-range effort from Ciarán Behan is hit over the bar after a nice bit of play from the College.
No changes for either side during the break but both managers will be looking for more from their sides in the second half.
Grimes gets us back underway at the Bowl.
Halftime: UCD AFC 0-0 Drogheda United.
One additional minute here.
A good spell of possession for UCD gives the defence some respite but Barr will be rueing that one. The UCD number 7 is picked out just inside the area but tries to find a teammate in spite of the fans' shouts to shoot. Unselfish from the UCD man...probably too unselfish.
Excellent defending from captain Jack Keaney. His centre-back partner slips and loses the ball on the edge of the area and the ball drops right to the feet of Markey who shoots but a great diving block from Keaney saves UCD once again.
Another Dayle Rooney cross fizzes through the UCD box without finding a player in such a dangerous area. Drogheda need to attack that UCD back line to get on the scoresheet.
Best chance so far comes to Draper after the Drogs win the ball in midfield. Brennan plays a lovely ball down the right on the UCD box into the path of Draper who drills the shot goalwards only for it to edge just over the bar.
The first yellow goes to Draper who cleans out keeper Moore after the catches the ball.
Dayle Rooney is causing UCD problems down this left flank. On this occasion, he shows some great skill and fizzes the ball low towards Grimes who almost gets on the end of it but its put out for a corner by the UCD defence.
Close! Two good chances for Drogheda. Firstly a great cross from Rooney finds Adebayega who knocks it just wide but takes a deflection. The resulting corner finds Keeley but his effort is well held down low by Moore in the UCD net.
Excellent block from Dara Keane who patiently deals with the threat of Markey down the right flank. UCD lost the ball and then the midfielder has acres of space down the wing but he was well-tracked by Keane who blocked the shot as Markey entered the box.
Plenty of physicality from the Drogs in the opening stages but little by way of chances for either side so far
The first shot of the game is registered as Markey knocks the ball over from outside the area.
UCD get us underway at the Bowl!
May be too early to call this a relegation 6 pointer and Drogheda fans may take offence. But there is no underestimating how important this game is particularly for UCD who are yet to record a win this season.
Late change for Drogheda after Adam Foley injures himself in the warm-up. He is replaced by Dylan Grimes.
A big shoutout to the ground staff here at the UCD Bowl who pulled out all the stops to ensure the pitch is playable this evening. The surface is far from perfect but passed a late pitch inspection on the second time of asking less than 3 hours before kickoff.
Team news is in and it's 4 changes for the hosts after their 4-0 defeat to Derry City earlier this week. Kian Moore replaces Lorcan Healy in goal while Evan Osam, Adam Wells and Michael Gallagher all start. Meanwhile, the visitors Drogheda are unchanged from their defeat to Bohemians on Monday.
Good evening from the UCD Bowl, I'm Conor Paterson, welcoming you to FinalWhistle.ie coverage of tonight's SSE Airtricity League Premier Divison clash between UCD AFC and Drogheda United. Team news from Belfield is just minutes away.