Drogheda United 0 UCD 1

 

CILLIAN MORRISON'S goal ensured UCD began their campaign with a narrow win over a Drogheda United side that gave of their all over the hour and a half.

 

 

The students were just about value for their victory if only for the greater number of chances they created against a side who were hastily assembled and short on pre-season preparations.

 

Both sides enjoyed their fair share of possession in an opening half that was big on effort but lacking in clear cut goal chances. UCD looked sharper in the final third of the park calling Drogheda keeper David Quirke into action on a number of occasions as he made fine stops from Morrison, Gerard O’Callaghan and Graham Rusk.

 

Drogheda’s best effort fell to Dinny Corcoran who dispossessed Yael Haro before sending a fine shot only just the wrong side of the post.

 

The visitors took control of matters right from the off in the second half pinning United back, however, they failed to make their superiority count in terms of goals. In fact the best they could muster during a twenty minute spell in which they were totally on top was a shot by Morrison that was easily dealt with by Quirke.

 

With just over an hour gone Quirke had to be at his best once more when hid did really well to get down and hold a stinging drive from Graham Rusk. Drogheda’s spirited resistance was finally broken ten minutes from time when they afforded Ciaran Nangle the freedom of the park on the left to cross for Cillian Morrison who bundled the ball over the line.

 

The home side came closest to levelling matters just before the finish when John Lester blasted the ball into the side netting from a good position.

 

Drogheda United: Quirke, Gannon, Quigley, McNally, Whelan, Lester, O’Brien, McCrossan, Freeman, Corcoran (Hanaphy 58), Hand (Skelly79).

 

UCD: Barron, Harding, Nangle, Haro, Leahy, Corry, Marshall (Meenan 66), Creevy, Morrison, Rusk, O’Callaghan (O’Connor 66).

 

Referee: N. Doyle (Dublin).