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Late goals from Timmy Purcell and Paul Byrne snatched a dramatic draw for UCD in a thoroughly entertaining game in Belfield Park tonight. The league leaders looked to have the points wrapped up after an hour in which they were largely on top, but a storming come-back from UCD saw the Students' unbeaten run extend to eight games, the longest since a 13-match unbeaten streak in 2004.
Having beaten the Saints already in the League Cup on Monday, Pete Mahon kept faith with the 4-5-1 formation used in Richmond, which meant a first league start for Greg Bolger, while Tony McDonnell made his first league start since the opening day. Unfortunately, the game was to end early for the UCD skipper, as he succumbed to a hamstring injury just a quarter of an hour in.
McDonnell departed just after the best move of the opening phase, when slick passing from the visitors saw Gary O'Neill played through, but his dinked shot over the advancing Matt Gregg only just cleared the bar. Ten minutes later, Keith Fahey went agonisingly close to opening the scoring, but again the ball landed on the right side of the bar from the hosts' viewpoint.
But the goal which had been threatened did eventually arrive ten minutes before the break, Mark Quigley scoring with a superb drive from 25 yards out.
The Saints were at this stage without Cameroon international Joseph Ndo, who limped out of the game shortly before the half hour after picking up a knock in a heavy challenge, but they continued to threaten, and former Student Anto Murphy nearly made it 2-0 just before the break, but Matt Gregg tipped over the bar at full stretch. On the hour mark, it was 2-0, however, as Gary O'Neill arrived to get the final touch on a low ball across the six yard box.
The goal arrived a couple of minutes after Paul Byrne's introduction as a sub, whcih saw UCD move back to a more usual 4-4-2 formation, and it paid dividends as UCD suddenly came right back into the match. Barry Ryan produced a superb save to touch Paul Crowley's back header onto the bar, while Conor Sammon played Derek Doyle through only for Ryan to stand his ground and parry away.
As the game wore on, hesitancy crept into the Saints' game, and from one set piece delivered into the area, the entire Pat's defence left it to each other to clear, which ultimately resulted in a goal line scramble from which they only just survived. From the clearance, Pat's went straight up field, and Matt Gregg had to be sharp to make a good save to deny O'Neill from the edge of the box.
Five minutes from the end, UCD got a lifeline when Conan Byrne sent in a cross from the right, and Timmy Purcell, only on the pitch five minutes, rammed home the loose ball.
It was all UCD now. A minute later, Paul Byrne sent Conor Sammon through, but Barry Ryan was out of his box to avert the danger. But as the game entered injury time, Conor Sammon won a dubious free kick on the side of the area; the free found its way to Paul Byrne at the far post, who tapped home to seal the comeback, and picked up a yellow card in the celebrations which followed for good measure.
UCD: Gregg, Mahon, Bermingham, Kenna, McNally, McDonnell (Crowley 17), C Byrne, McFaul, Sammon, Bolger (P Byrne 53), Doyle (Purcell 77). Subs not used - Quigley, AN Other
Booked - Bolger, Crowley, P Byrne
Att - 935
Originally Posted by Dodge
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