A Pat McWalter brace helped UCD to cruise to victory over 10-man Sligo Rovers at Belfield Park on Saturday evening. The victory - and indeed, the margin - was fully deserved by a College side who were superior to their opponents in almost every department on the night.
UCD made three changes from the team which had narrowly lost out in Dalymount the previous week - Paul Byrne came back in up front, Conor Kenna returned in defence at left-back and Gary Dicker started in centre-mid; Darragh Ryan moved to left-wing, while Derek Doyle, Stephen Hurley and Alan Cawley dropped to the bench.
UCD took the lead within three minutes - Rovers keeper John O'Hara needlessly conceded a corner, and Alan McNally was left unmarked to head home his first of the season from close range.
UCD continued to dominate, and extended their lead with a superb strike from Pat McWalter on the half hour. Picking the ball up in midfield, McWalter drove forward before unleashing a powerful drive straight into the top corner from 25 yards.
UCD could have extended their lead before the break, but McNally's header was blocked, and the defender blasted his own rebound over the bar with the goal gaping.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors in the second half when Darren Mansaram was sent off for a second yellow card after a foul on Conor Kenna - the visitors had put in a number of hefty challenges throughout the match, and Brian Shortall in particular required treatment on more than one occasion. UCD could have made it 3-0 when Darragh Ryan broke free down the left - his cross across the goal just eluded Conor Sammon and Paul Byrne. However, a third wasn't long coming - with a quarter of an hour to go, Darragh Ryan won a free-kick on the left; he played the ball out to Pat McWalter hovering just outside the D, and he blasted home first-time into the top corner for a superb strike.
Down to ten men and 3-0 in arrears, Sligo offered little from then on, and UCD comfortably saw out a victory which lifts them into the top half of the table. There's a break in the schedule now for international duties before the Students return to league action on Monday fortnight for a game against Dublin City.
UCD - Quigley; Mahon, Kenna, Shortall, McNally; McDonnell, McWalter, Dicker, Ryan (Doyle 88); P Byrne (Hurley 84), Sammon. Subs not used - Hussey, Cawley, AN Other.
Att - 502
