Details

Date Time League Season
23 June 2023 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2023

Match Report

UCD stun Sligo to break long losing streak

Jake Doyle’s late header gave an important victory for basement side UCD as the student’s turned a 1-0 half time deficit into a 2-1 victory over Sligo Rovers as the students secured a historic win in their bid to work a miracle escape from relegation.

A lucky block just ten minutes earlier saw the home side draw level as Sami Clarke closed down Luke McNicholas and saw the ball ricochet back into the empty goal from the blocked down clearance cancelling out Jack Keaney’s first half own goal.

Sligo had dominated the possession stakes in the opening stages and looked like the most likely team to score although it took them almost quarter of an hour to get their first meaningful strike on goal. A long range effort from Lukas Browning which fizzed past the near post of Kian Moore’s goal.

On 22 minutes, Sligo’s dominance finally bore fruit as David Cawley latched onto a corner kick and his touch deflected off Jack Keaney and into the bottom corner of the net to put his former side one goal up at the midway point of the first half.

Sligo continued to enjoy the lion’s share of the ball but could generate another effort on goal in a relatively poor display in the attacking areas of the pitch from the Bit O’Red.

UCD did enjoy a purple patch early in the second half and almost drew level nine minutes into the second period when a combination of Jake Doyle and Alex Nolan dispossessed a Sligo player on the edge of the box.

Nolan’s powerful effort appeared to be headed to the bottom corner until a firm hand from a full stretch McNicholas pushed it away from goal and kept his goal intact.

UCD finally made the breakthrough to level matters when a long ball came through to McNicholas, under little pressure he saw his clearance rebound off substitute Sami Clarke and the Mayo stopper could only watch in horror as the ball trickled into the empty net with fifteen minutes left on the clock.

With five minutes left on the clock the student led. A deep set piece delivery from Alex Nolan was met by the head of the dangerous Jake Doyle who guided the cross into the top corner to sent the small but loyal UCD fanbase wild.

The League’s top scorer Max Mata almost rescued his side with a header which produced a phenomenal save from Kian Moore to keep his side ahead.

Sligo battered the student’s goal through the five minutes of injury time but could not find the breakthrough as the relegation battle appears to become closer to a reality for the Bit O’Red.

UCD AFC

16Kian Moore Goalkeeper 90+5'
2Michael Gallagher 19 Midfielder
3Evan Osam Defender 50'
5Adam Wells Defender 63'
6Jack Keaney Midfielder 19'
7Brendan Barr Midfielder
11Alex Nolan Forward 88'
12Daniel Babb Defender
25Daniel Norris 24 Forward 84'
26Luke O’Regan 21 Defender
29Jake Doyle Forward 85'
1Lorcan Healy Goalkeeper
4Ryan Bowden Defender
14Harry O’Connor Midfielder
19Sami Clarke 2 Forward 73'
21Danu Kinsella Bishop 26 Forward 90+4'
24Harvey O’Brien 25 Defender
31Kyle Donoghue Midfielder
33Colin Bolton Defender
35Matthew Alonge Forward

Sligo Rovers

1Luke McNicholas Goalkeeper
2Johan Brannefalk Defender
3Danny Lafferty Defender 84'
7Will Fitzgerald Midfielder
8Niall Morahan 34 Midfielder
18Stefan Radosavljevic 10 Forward
19Lukas Browning-Lagerfeldt Midfielder 68'
21John Mahon Defender
22David Cawley 6 Midfielder
27Max Mata Forward 50'
28Nando Pijnaker Defender
30Richard Brush Goalkeeper
6Greg Bolger 22 Midfielder
10Frank Liivak 18 Forward
34Kailin Barlow 8 Midfielder
37Conor Campbell Forward
47Owen Elding Forward
52Gareth McElroy Defender
  • 95'

    Full Time: UCD 2-1 Sligo Rovers. The Students are well worth their second victory of the season. Sligo will be disappointed with the loss.

  • 85'

    Alex Nolan's free kick finds the head of Jake Doyle who amazingly finishes to the back of the net to heap the pressure on Sligo who look to be getting dragged into a relegation dogfight.

  • 84'

    Max Mata will be seeing replays of this in his sleep this evening. Barlow's chipped pass finds the head of Mata in the front of goal but his effort once again goes just over the bar.

  • 73'

    UCD have drawn level. An innocuous clearance from Luke McNicholas under minimal pressure rebounds off Sami Clarke and rolls into the empty net to put both sides on level scores.

  • 66'

    UCD are competing well in the second half, as long as it stays 1-0 they will believe they can get something out of this game.

  • 59'

    Change for Sligo as Liivak replaces Stefan Radosavljevic for the visitors.

  • 54'

    A phenomenal save from Luke McNicholas keeps his side in the lead as UCD's Jake Doyle steals the ball on the edge of the box and rifle in an effort bound for the bottom corner. UCD are beginning to get a foothold in the clash.

  • 53'

    Max Mata got on the end of a Brannfalk centre but his effort went just over the bar under pressure from Keaney.

  • 50'

    A couple of bookings for Evan Osam and Max Mata as they clash on half way.

  • 45'

    Teams are preparing for the second half as the hosts prepare to start the proceedings. They need a big second half to rescue a result here.

  • 42'

    Approaching half time in the Bowl and it's been all Sligo Rovers. The visitors can't find any quality in the final third though and only lead by the single goal.

  • 38'

    Max Mata had a shot on goal. This time Keaney gets a touch which takes the sting out of the effort and Moore gathers easily.

  • 36'

    Sligo have continued their dominance but have struggled to create any real chances of note.

  • 27'

    UCD almost pulled one back after Jake Doyle wins the ball of a Sligo defender and runs at the goal. John Mahon makes a telling intervention to deflect it wide and Luke McNicholas deals with the cross.

  • 22'

    GOAL: It's been coming for a while. David Cawley is receiveing the congratulations but it appears to take a major deflection off his former team mate Jack Keaney into the bottom corner.

  • 19'

    Lucas Browning has the first real shot at the target with a long range effort that fizzes past the near post.

  • 14'

    Another great combo from Fitzgerald allows Daniel Lafferty to whip in a cross. An outstretched hand from Moore takes the ball off MAta's head and the keeper gathers at the second attempt. It's all Sligo here.

  • 10'

    Great work from Will Fitzgerald creates a crossing opportunity to Max Mata but he can't get his effort on target and Moore breathes a sigh of relief.

  • 4'

    Sligo have been impressive in the opening exchanges although they haven't been able to break down the stduent's rearguard. UCD keeper Kian Moore has been busy tidying up stray passes and crosses so far.

  • The Bit O'Red get us up and running in the early moments in the Belfield Bowl.

  • The teams are running through their last minute checks at the Belfield Bowl as former Bit O'Red midfielder Jack Keaney leads out the home side. Sligo Rovers boss John Russell will be hoping for a return to form against the bottom side in the league. Kick off just minutes away.

Past Meetings

(Round 11)
3 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC 3-1 UCD AFC

(Round 2)
2 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC 2-3 Sligo Rovers FC

(Round 32)
0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC 0-2 Sligo Rovers

(Round 24)
0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers 0-2 UCD AFC

(Round 18)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC v Sligo Rovers

(Round 9)
2 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v UCD AFC

(2nd Round)
1 - 3
FAI Cup
UCD Bowl

University College Dublin AFC v Sligo Rovers

0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC v Sligo Rovers FC

5 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v UCD AFC

0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC v Sligo Rovers FC

1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v UCD AFC

4
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v UCD AFC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl

UCD AFC v Sligo Rovers FC

5
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo 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

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