UCD rounded off an encouraging pre-season with a comfortable victory over league newcomers Wexford Youths in Belfield Park tonight.
Pete Mahon went for a full strength team, bar Ronan Finn, still on Ireland U-21 duty, which should give an indication of the line-up for the first league game against Shamrock Rovers next Friday. UCD wasted no time getting about their opponents, with Conor Sammon claiming his second goal of pre-season early on, and Conan Byrne capitalising on a goalkeeping howler to put UCD 2-0 up before the half hour.
There was a blow for the Students shortly after when Tony McDonnell was taken off with a black eye after an accidental elbow in the face; however, he should be fit for next Friday. There was no respite for Wexford, however, as Conan Byrne in particular tormented them down the right wing, striking the bar with one shot from the corner of the box.
It was a similar story in the second half despits a few substitutions - Bogdan, Timmy Purcell and Matt Gregg came on for Paul Byrne, Conor Sammon and Darren Quigley. The third goal came from a great Derek Doyle run down the left wing; he left his marker for dead, although was somewhat fortunate to see his driven cross ricochet into the back of the net off a Wexford defender.
The pressure kept on - the Students were denied a clear penalty when the referee decided that Conan Byrne was fouled on the edge of the box rather than a yard inside it; the Wexford keeper produced a good save to keep out Byrne's curling free kick. A goalmouth scramble ensued, with Wexford clearing off their line before breaking clear.
The visitors did have one decent chance to get on the scoreline when they broke through the UCD defence, but Matt Gregg saved well one-on-one on the edge of his area.
With a quarter of an hour to go, Bogdan was played in on goal; he shimmied past the keeper but let the ball get too far ahead of him, but as he retrieved it on the goal line, he was fouled from behind for a penalty. Timmy Purcell, however, sent the kick wide of the right-hand post.
There was time for a fourth goal, however, and it was the best of the night as Derek Doyle casually stroked home from 25 yards with his weaker right foot.
UCD - Quigley (Gregg 45); Mahon, Kenna, McNally, McDonnell (Gallagher 30); McFaul, C Byrne (?? - 60), King, Doyle; Sammon (Bogdan 60), P Byrne (Purcell 60)
