UCD are through to the third round of the FAI Cup after a battling win over European quarter-finalists Cork City in Belfield last night. Seán Finn's goal on his return from injury midway through the first half ultimately decided an open game in which both sides had chances to add to the scoring. However, First Division UCD weren't overawed by their supposedly better opponents and held off Cork's attempts to salvage a replay fairly comfortably to book their place in Monday's draw.
Cork started much the brighter, but were rocked when Finn scored out of the blue. Picking the ball up outside the area, he created space and unleashed a shot which Devine in the Cork goal looked to have covered, but he appeared to let it through his hands and the shot crept in at the far post.
Two minutes later, it could have been 2-0 as Robbie Martin got in behind the Cork defence but lifted his shot over both Devine and the crossbar. Cork had a couple of chances in the first half, but resolute defending from UCD limited them to long-range efforts, none of which really troubled Darren Quigley, making his first senior start in goals for UCD outside of the League Cup.
The game opened up in the second half as Cork got forward a bit more, though not with the same effect as they had early in the first half, but Quigley was equal to anything put into the box, punching clear on several occasions and generally dealing exceptionally well with the high ball. UCD created plenty of chances on the counter, most notably when Willie Doyle was fouled for what appeared to be a professional foul, but the ball ran on to Robbie Martin, only for Devine to make up for his earlier error with a good low block.
As the game wore on, UCD regularly caught the Cork defence for pace, Pat Sullivan in particular impressing on the right, but they couldn't make anything of their openings. And at the other end, Cork did have the ball in the net, but the whistle had gone long beforehand. But it was only in the last few minutes when Cork started to threaten the UCD goal - first Quigley reacted well to tip over a shot, and then a long-range effort took a nasty bounce which needed Quigley to be alert to tip over again.
In the end though, UCD held out fairly comfortably, and the Cork fans were subdued long before the final whistle. There was a rumour that one of the UCD players - possibly Robbie Martin - had been booked twice and not sent off, but Martin at least knew nothing of this after the game, and in any case, the precedent would be that it could not effect the final result. The game marked the third time UCD have played Premier Division opposition this season, and they have yet to lose in normal time after drawing with Rovers and Bohs in the League Cup (subsequently losing to Bohs after extra time; you may make what you will of the League Cup aspect of the games) and now adding this impressive win. Next up is a home tie with bogey team Cobh Ramblers on Sunday as College get back to the bread and butter of trying to earn promotion at the first time of asking.
UCD - Quigley, Mahon, McAuley, Kenna, McNally, McDonnell, Sullivan, Finn (McWalter), Davey, Doyle, Martin. Subs not used - Gallagher, Foley, Kierans, AN Other.
Att - 574
