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Bugger.
A poor showing and a couple of remarkable results dropped UCD to within two points of the play-offs after a 3-1 home defeat to Bohs on Friday night. With joint leaders Derry City visiting Belfield on Monday, it looks that the season, which looked to be over a couple of weeks ago, could well now go down to the wire.
UCD made just the one change - as expected, Brian Gannon came in at right-back for the suspended Alan Mahon. The UCD defence, shorn of two of its most experienced players - Mahon and McNally - had a torrid time, and it wasn't against the run of play when Bohs took the lead midway through the first half. Picking up a loose ball, Bohs broke forward in numbers and played the ball right to Fergal Harkin, who drilled past Darren Quigley for the lead goal.
Ten minutes later, it was 2-0. A cross from the right found O'Keeffe unmarked at the far post, and he placed his volley under Quigley in nets.
UCD, however, were not without their chances going forward - Conor Kenna saw a superb 30-yard effort tipped over by Matt Gregg before Anto Murphy was picked out by a superb Gary Dicker pass; he got past two Bohs defenders in one go before unleashing a shot which was bound for the top corner before Gregg pushed it away.
The game was marred by some curious refereeing decisions, however, particularly in the second half when first Anto Murphy was booked for what appeared a perfectly legitimate - if tough - challenge on the right touchline before Quigley came out of his box to tackle a Bohs attacker out near the corner flag in another very heavy - but seemingly fair - challenge; amazingly, the ref gave a free out and booked a Bohs player. Several petty free-kick calls didn't aid the flow of the game, and neither did two quick injuries to key UCD players within minutes just as the Students were beginning to get the upper hand. First Anto Murphy was forced off with an ankle injury before Matt Gregg collided into the back of Robbie Martin, who left the pitch clearly dazed. Derek Doyle and Conan Byrne were introduced.
UCD did manage to get the goal they deserved a quarter of an hour from time. Bohs failed to clear a corner properly, and Pat McWalter waited for the ball to drop before finishing superbly to the corner of the net from the edge of the area.
However, eight minutes later, Bohs wrapped the points up when Harkin again found space on the right; this time, he had to go past two challenges before slotting home past Quigley.
UCD - Quigley; Gannon, O'Donnell, Kenna, McDonnell; Hurley, Dicker, Murphy, McWalter; Martin (C Byrne), Dupuy. Subs not used - Gallagher, Shortall, W Doyle
Att - 800
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