Video
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2023 | 5:00 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Goals in either half help Dundalk beat Students
A John Martin goal from a corner in the first half and a late Ryan O’Kane rocket was enough to give Dundalk all three points against UCD AFC this afternoon at the UCD Bowl.
After dealing with early pressure thanks to UCD’s shot stopper, poor defending from a corner gave Martin a simple tap-in and his second goal in two games. Both sides were unable to convert half chances as the game progressed before a moment of real quality by O’Kane deep into stoppage time gave the away side the all important three points in the capital.
The away side came flying out of the traps and were utterly dominant in the opening stages. After a routine catch from a long-range effort from Archie Davis, UCD keeper Kian Moore produced a fine save to deny Ryan O’Kane.
The winger found plenty of space outside the box and struck an effort with real power. However, Moore was alive to the danger and managed to get a fingertip on the shot which was enough to put it over the crossbar.
However, after the opening ten minutes, UCD largely got to grips with the Lilywhites and began to get more of a foothold in the game. After an even middle part of the half with little chances for either side, the Students’ defending of a set piece proved to be their downfall.
Ryan O’Kane went deep with a corner that just about evaded the players in the six-yard box only to arrive on a plate for John Martin. The striker hardly had to break stride and it appeared that he found the net with his thigh. The College will be wondering how he was given free rein at the back post.
Minutes later Rayhaan Tulloch had a great opportunity when he was picked out and given licence to drive at the backtracking Adam Wells. The on-loan striker twisted and turned before his shot missed the target when a goal was certainly within reach.
The lively Ryan O’Kane who proved to be a thorn in the UCD defence nearly set up a second on the stroke of halftime. The winger zipped a low cross along the six-yard box that somehow evaded the waiting Dundalk attackers.
While UCD just edged the possession stats in the opening 45 minutes, the second half was a different affair with Dundalk seeing plenty more of the ball. They thought they had their second shortly after the start of the half from a free-kick delivery. O’Kane found O’Malley who headed home but the linesman judged Archie Davis who was standing in front of the keeper to be offside.
UCD made several changes to mount a comeback. After equalising against Bohs on Friday, Jake Doyle was brought on but unable to recreate his magic on the second time of asking. Unfortunately for Dundalk one of their subs, Robbie Benson lasted less than three minutes after he was introduced when he pulled up with a hamstring injury in his first bit of action.
The travelling Dundalk fans were able to relax when they sealed all three points in the third minute of additional time. Man of the match Ryan O’Kane was fed by Alfie Lewis from a long way out but his effort was a memorable one that gave Moore no chance.
The result moves Dundalk on to 19 points from their opening 13 games. They sit level on points with Sligo Rovers who they travel to next on Saturday night.
For UCD meanwhile, their 3-game unbeaten home run comes to an end against a strong Louth side. Next up for the Students is a trip across town on Friday to face Damien Duff’s Shelbourne.
Timeline
| 34' | 10. John Martin | |
| Donal Higgins Michael Gallagher | 54' | |
| Danu Kinsella Bishop Sami Clarke | 54' | |
| 2. Michael Gallagher | 58' | |
| 66' | John Martin Robbie Benson | |
| 66' | Johannes Yli-Kokko Patrick Hoban | |
| 68' | Robbie Benson Keith Ward | |
| Dara Keane Jake Doyle | 73' | |
| 79' | 2. Archie Davies | |
| Alex Nolan Harry O’Connor | 84' | |
| Daniel Norris Devine Izekor | 84' | |
| 87' | Rayhaan Tulloch Paul Doyle | |
| 89' | 9. Patrick Hoban | |
| 90+3' | 11. Ryan O'Kane |
Past Meetings
 
(Round 1)
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC 1-1 UCD AFC |
|
(Round 30)
3 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC 3-2 Dundalk |
|
(Round 22)
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk v UCD AFC |
|
(Round 14)
2 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Dundalk |
|
(Round 8)
2 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk v UCD AFC |
5 - 3eLOI
Dundalk v UCD AFC |
0 - 5LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Dundalk FC |
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v UCD AFC |
1 - 3LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Dundalk FC |
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v UCD AFC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Dundalk FC |
5 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v UCD AFC |
1 - 4LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Dundalk 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.
Full-time whistle sounds and Dundalk secure all three points!
Keaney drives a freekick over the bar which is jeered by the travelling fans who have been allowed to relax a little.
Surely that's it and what a goal to seal it! O'Kane with a long-range effort to all but seal the victory.
Chance for UCD to deliver with a deep freekick but Dundalk clear their lines through Williams who has been very solid this afternoon.
6 additional minutes at the Bowl!
Corner for UCD after a blocked shot. Nervous times for Dundalk!
Yellow for Benson after a late challenge on Moore.
Former UCD man Paul Doyle replaces Tulloch.
Instant impact from Izekor who does well to turn on the edge of the box but his effort is blocked.
Double change for UCD as Izekor and O'Connor replace Norris and Nolan.
Tired legs appear to be stopping UCD from getting more of a foothold in this game. Plenty of loose passes from the Students.
Archie Davis is booked and UCD have a chance to deliver into the box.
After UCD marginally won the first-half possession battle, Dundalk have seen a lot more of the ball this half. They will be reminded of Bohs' failure to kill the game off just days ago and will look to avoid a similar fate.
UCD bring on Jake Doyle who bagged the equaliser on Friday night against Bohs. Can he work his magic again as he replaces Dara Keane?
Unfortunately, Benson is unable to continue and is replaced by Ward.
He was just introduced and Robbie Benson is down with what looks like a hamstring injury.
Benson and Hoban are introduced for Dundalk.
Nathan Sheppard does well to get down and save a low shot from Norris after the ball broke kindly into the winger's path.
Substitute Gallagher is first into the book after a challenge on Tulloch.
Martin is once again picked out at the back post but his header is headed clear by Keane. A subsequent delivery finds Tulloch who headers over the bar.
Double change for UCD as Gallagher and Clarke replace Kinsella-Bishop and Higgins.
Chance! Tulloch delivers a cross that is just missed by the diving John Martin.
Disallowed goal for Dundalk as O'Malley headers home from a freekick but Davis appears to be offside in front of the keeper.
A nice turn and shot from outside the box by Kinsella-Bishop is saved by Sheppard to give us our first attempt of the second half.
Behan gets us back underway! No changes for either side.
A remarkable stat is noticed as the teams re-emerged. The 25-year-old Darragh Leahy is the oldest player from each starting lineup. A very young lineup for both sides.
Halftime UCD AFC 0-1 Dundalk FC.
2 additional minutes at the Bowl.
Ryan O'Kane zippes a low cross along the 6-yard box but somehow no Dundalk player is there to finish.
Chance! Tulloch one on one with just the backtracking Wells and Moore to beat but he fires wide.
Disappointing for UCD who had gotten largely to grips with what Dundalk were throwing at them but they are punished for poor defending of the set-piece.
Breakthrough for Dundalk! Martin is in acres of space at the back post to tap home a Ryan O'Kane corner.
UCD have survived the early onslaught and it's an even game now albeit with few chances for either side.
That looked a painful landing for Martin but the game is back underway and Martin is reintroduced.
John Martin is down with a back injury after an aerial duel with Wells. The break gives both teams a chance to get some water on board as both managers give a mini-team talk.
Lovely bit of play down the right wing for Dundalk particularly by O'Malley who turned under pressure and managed to get a delivery into the area. Keaney was alive to the danger and headed clear.
Excellent sliding tackle from Adam Wells on Archie Davis after he was gifted possession by Dempsey and went on a bursting run from deep.
Better from UCD after a spell of possession which is lost, Jesse Dempsey wins the ball high off Yli-Kokko and drives towards the end line. Sheppard comfortably claims the delivery, however.
Dundalk have been utterly dominant so far. Their latest threat came from an O\'Kane freekick which was unconvincingly cleared after a scramble in the box.
Serious pressure from Dundalk early on and a fingertips save from Moore knocks a Ryan O'Kane effort over the bar.
Safe hands from Moore to catch an effort from Archie Davis who cuts in from the right flank.
Early pressure from Dundalk gives O'Kane a chance to drive towards the UCD box but his delivery is missed by both sides.
The away side gets us underway!
Elsewhere in the division, Sligo Rovers currently lead St. Pats 1-0 in Inchicore where the game is in the dying minutes. You can keep track of that one on FinalWhistle.ie while you're waiting for kickoff here!
Speaking to club media ahead of this afternoon's clash, Patrick Hoban was under no illusions as to how difficult today's task is for the Lilywhites. Despite UCD's league position he said "UCD may be bottom of the table but they are just off the back of getting a result against Bohemians and we drew with them at the start of the season, so it’s not going to be easy. They beat us up there last season as well and we know that we have to be on our A-game to win matches in this league. If you’re not, you’re going to drop points."
Meanwhile, for Dundalk, Wasiri Williams, Alfie Lewis and John Martin come in for Robbie Benson, Keith Ward and Patrick Hoban. John Martin is rewarded with a start after he bagged the late winner in the Louth derby as a substitute last time out.
3 changes for both sides from their fixtures on Friday. For the home side Osam, Behan and Keane are introduced in place of Barr, Clarke and Mark Dignam who suffered an injury on Friday evening.
Good afternoon! I'm Conor Paterson coming to you from the UCD Bowl for FinalWhistle.ie coverage of today's SSE Airtricity League Premier Division clash between UCD AFC and Dundalk FC. I'll have live updates and a match report at full-time. Team news from Belfield is coming very shortly.