Originally Posted by
pineapple stu
A last gasp Conor Sammon goal snatched a point for UCD and saved keeper Matt Gregg's blushed in an entertaining tie against Longford Town tonight.
With Pete Mahon putting out the same team which had won in Derry the previous week, confidence was high in the UCD camp, and it was justified on 20 minutes when Conan Byrne won a tackle on the edge of the Longford area, and Paul Byrne picked up the loose ball to curl home superbly for the opener, his third in four games.
Byrne could have made it two just a few minutes later, but his header was unconvincinly dealt with by Shay Kelly in the Town net. Longford had their chances too, in particular when a shot on the far post went right across the UCD six yard box without anyone getting a touch.
A minute into the second half, Paul Byrne was again causing trouble when he burst forward only to drive just wide from 20 yards. But Longford were lever a few minutes later when Robbie Martin was given the freedom of the six yard box to turn and place his shot past the despairing dive of Matt Gregg.
There was nothing Gregg could have done about the goal; however, the big keeper was definitely at fault for the second goal when he spilled a low cross from the right, and John Reilly gleefully tapped home the rebound.
UCD responded, and almost had an equaliser within a matter of minutes when Conan Byrne played Conor Sammon through, but Shay Kelly rushed out of his box to clear the danger; the ball came back to Shane McFaul, whose shot was straight at Kelly.
Ronan Finn was introduced to held UCD's attack, and he was involved in UCD's next move when his clever flick caught the Town defence square, but Conor Sammon scuffed his shot. And two minutes later, Paul Byrne set up Finn, but his shot was deflected over the bar for a corner.
Longford became more defensive as the half wore on, and the last five minutes in particular were constant UCD pressure. It paid off in the second minute of injury time, when Ian Bermingham's cross was nodded home by Sammon at the near post.
UCD - Gregg; Mahon, Bermingham, Kenna, McNally; Crowley (Purcell 80), C Byrne, McFaul (Finn 65), Doyle (McDonnell 80); P Byrne, Sammon. SUbs not used - Quigley, McMillan
Att - 410
