0 v 2 
UCD AFC| 57' Paul Doyle | ||
0-1 | 68' Colm Whelan | |
0-2 | 87' Paul Doyle |
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 November 2021 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's Promotion Playoffs | 2021 |
Match Report
UCD one step away from promotion
UCD have beat Bray 2-0 at Dalymount tonight to progress to the promotion/relegation final, where Waterford now await them after the closing events of the Premier Division.
Young striker Colm Whelan has been the star of this UCD team all season and this evening was no different when the stakes were at their highest.
He threatened all game and eventually found the net with a brilliant free kick in the 68th minute. Bray put in a commendable performance but ultimately lacked end product on the big night.
Paul Doyle added a second late on, also set up by Whelan.
Andy Myler’s team are past one showdown, but now comes the real test. A game next week against Waterford will be tough, who picked up a respectable draw with St.Pats tonight but finish 9th only for a Finn Harps thrashing over Longford.
Take nothing away from the achievement at hand though, the Students won comfortably in the end to win this First division play off. Myler will be pleased as his team stuck to their renowned attacking game plan through difficult periods of the game.
His good friend and Bray Wanderers manager Gary Cronin will struggle to hide his disappointment, as he did so well to get this Bray team here after they slipped up in last year’s play-offs too. His Seagulls were no mismatch and had fair spells of possession, but off days for some of their forwards led to a lack of incision.
The Dubliners may not be in the Premier Division yet but they will certainly celebrate this one. Star striker Colm Whelan was predicted to be Bray’s main problem and that was the case. Not only did he give his side the lead with a quality free kick that rooted his international team mate Brian Maher to the spot, but his touch was crisp and in general he was unplayable.
Sean Brennan formerly of Southampton was tonight’s rendition of what stats don’t show you. His break-up play got UCD through this affair just as much as Whelan and Liam Kerrigan’s attacking prowess. Paul Doyle worked hard all night so there could be no complaints when he scored their second with three minutes left.
The game was there for the Seagulls really, but they seemed to play the occasion. Brandon Kavanagh and Ryan Graydon looked lively but simply ran out of ideas. It also can’t be denied that the Wicklow outfit suffered the absence of Conor Clifford.
Timeline
| 57' | 6. Paul Doyle | |
| 68' | 9. Colm Whelan | |
| Darren Craven Sam Verdon |
75' | |
| 87' | 6. Paul Doyle |
Past Meetings
|
(Series 21)
4 - 3UCD Bowl University College Dublin AFC v Bray Wanderers |
|
(Series 12)
4 - 0Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers v University College Dublin AFC |
|
(Series 3)
0 - 0UCD Bowl University College Dublin AFC v Bray Wanderers |
|
(Series 15)
1 - 3UCD Bowl University College Dublin AFC v Bray Wanderers |
|
(Series 6)
2 - 0Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers v University College Dublin AFC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers FC v UCD AFC |
7:45 pmLOI Men's Premier Division
UCD Bowl UCD AFC v Bray Wanderers FC |
3 - 5LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers FC v UCD AFC |
Ground
| Dalymount Park |
|---|
| Dalymount Park, Connaught Street, Phibsborough, Cabra East A ED, Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, D07 XH2D, Ireland |
Con Sheehan
21 year old sports journalist from Drogheda. Student at Dublin City University. Drogheda United Correspondent for FinalWhistle.ie
Full-time in Phibsborough. 2-0 to the Students and they now advance to play Waterford in the big one
2-0 UCD! Whelan clips it nicely over the defence to meet Doyle's excellent run, and Doyle finished into the corner.
The Wanderers have switched things up tactically and continue to push for an equaliser. They still lack any real incision though as they look to force extra-time.
Sam Verdon replaces Darren Craven as Gary Cronin's side chases an equaliser
GOAL! Star man Whelan could be the hero again tonight for UCD. He wins a hard-fought free kick and dispatches it brilliantly rooting his international colleague Maher to the spot
Maher keeps the Wicklow outfit in it again saving a Keane shot after Whelan did well to pull it back on the byline
Booking for Paul Doyle for a challenge on Graydon
A miscommunication at the back from the Wanderers gave Whelan his second chance but Maher saved well
A more positive start from Bray in the second half. Brandon Kavanagh and Ryan Graydon finding their spark but still no end product yet.
Half-Time at Dalymount, 0-0
Sean Brennan has arguably been the player of the half as we approach the interval. The young midfielder has plugged the gaps brilliantly and has allowed UCD to maintain periods of pressure on the Wicklow side
The first big opportunity comes from a lovely piece of play from the Dubliners as Dara Keane controlled a difficult pass and set up Whelan in the box who struck the post with venom
It might be scrappy but starlet Liam Kerrigan is working very hard on the press for the Students and as a result they have been able to keep Bray pinned in numerous times in the last 10 minutes
Very much a stop start affair so far and it appears final fever has kicked in slightly for these young teams. Both playing with nerves and reluctant to push too high
Bray slightly in control as we approach the 20 minute mark. Retaining the possession well but lacking on the end product side, with a few poor balls from Brandon Kavanagh particularly
Nothing of note so far in terms of chances. UCD danger man Colm Whelan is looking sharp early on though with some good hold up play
The students get us underway in Phibsborough
The promising Brian Maher starts for Bray having returned from U21 international games against Italy and Sweden last week.
Sean Brennan is back in for UCD in midfield and Adam Verdon is out despite his goal against Treaty sending them through on aggregate.
As the Premier division finishes up tonight too, we will also find out whether the winner takes on Waterford or Finn Harps in the promotion/relegation final
Con Sheehan here reporting live as Bray clash with UCD at Dalymount Park in the First Division play-off final. Kick off in a few minutes