

0-1 | 19' Jack Keaney | |
Evan Osam 50' | ||
50' Max Mata | ||
Adam Wells 63' | ||
68' Lukas Browning-Lagerfeldt | ||
Sami Clarke 73' | 1-1 | |
Daniel Norris 84' | ||
84' Danny Lafferty | ||
Jake Doyle 85' | 2-1 | |
Alex Nolan 88' | ||
Kian Moore 90+5' | ||
Danu Kinsella Bishop 90+4' |
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.
Timeline
6. Jack Keaney | 19' | |
3. Evan Osam | 50' | |
50' | 22. Max Mata | |
59' | Stefan Radosavljevic Frank Liivak |
|
Luke O'Regan Danu Kinsella Bishop |
62' | |
3. Adam Wells | 63' | |
67' | David Cawley Greg Bolger |
|
68' | Lukas Browning-Lagerfeldt | |
Sami Clarke | 73' | |
Michael Gallagher Sami Clarke |
73' | |
75' | Niall Morahan Kailin Barlow |
|
12. Daniel Norris | 84' | |
84' | Danny Lafferty | |
29. Jake Doyle | 85' | |
Alex Nolan | 88' | |
Daniel Norris Harvey O'Brien |
89' | |
1. Kian Moore | 90+5' | |
21. Danu Kinsella Bishop | 90+4' |
Past Meetings
![]() ![]() (Round 11)
3 - 1The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC 3-1 UCD AFC |
![]() ![]() (Round 2)
2 - 3UCD Bowl UCD AFC 2-3 Sligo Rovers FC |
![]() ![]() (Round 32)
0 - 2UCD Bowl UCD AFC 0-2 Sligo Rovers |
![]() ![]() (Round 24)
0 - 2The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers 0-2 UCD AFC |
![]() ![]() (Round 18)
1 - 1UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Sligo Rovers |
![]() ![]() (Round 9)
2 - 2The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers v UCD AFC |
![]() ![]() (2nd Round)
1 - 3UCD Bowl University College Dublin AFC v Sligo Rovers |
![]() ![]() 0 - 2UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Sligo Rovers FC |
![]() ![]() 5 - 1The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v UCD AFC |
![]() ![]() 0 - 2UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Sligo Rovers FC |
![]() ![]() 1 - 0The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v UCD AFC |
![]() ![]() 4LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v UCD AFC |
![]() ![]() 1LOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Sligo Rovers FC |
![]() ![]() 5LOI 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Change for Sligo as Liivak replaces Stefan Radosavljevic for the visitors.
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.
Max Mata got on the end of a Brannfalk centre but his effort went just over the bar under pressure from Keaney.
A couple of bookings for Evan Osam and Max Mata as they clash on half way.
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.
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.
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.
Sligo have continued their dominance but have struggled to create any real chances of note.
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.
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.
Lucas Browning has the first real shot at the target with a long range effort that fizzes past the near post.
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.
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.
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.