Rovers 1 UCD 1

Hoops have to settle for a draw...

On a wet and miserable evening in Tolka Park the Hoops and UCD shared the spoils though the Students were desperate for all three points in their struggle against relegation. The pitch was very heavy and began to cut up as the game went on. Rovers started the brighter with Joseph Ndo whipping in a fine cross for Amond to head just over after only 33 seconds!

On six minutes Ndo was the provider again as he sent Amond on a run but Gregg advanced and almost messed up the clearance with his defender. The Students hit back when King hit the outside of the Hoops post with a flick after a corner. A great cross by Ger O'Brien was defended well in the 19th minute. A fabulous piece of skill by Ndo in the 21st minute saw him take control of the ball in his own half and run down the line. He combined with Doyle to burst into the area and cross low for Amond to shoot first time but Gregg blocked his effort.

Two minutes later a great cross by Sean O'Connor was met by Amond but his header in front of goal went inches wide. Ndo then tried his luck in front of goal with a snap shot but again Gregg was on hand to block. Five minutes before the break Ndo intercepted a UCD corner to race towards goal but the Students got back to clear.

UCDs Purcell had a long range effort go just over the crossbar in the first minute of the second-half but the Hoops took the lead with a sublime goal on 53 minutes. Price found Sean O'Connor at the edge of the area and he in turn passed to Ndo who made space to cross low for Amond to flick the ball into the path of Eoin Doyle who blasted the ball past Gregg.

As UCD pushed men forward for a corner Ndo took advantage to break away and feed Amond at the edge of the area but once again Gregg advanced to push away his shot. Purcell then went close for UCD in the 66th minute with a low drive. The heavy pitch took its toll as the game became scrappy but when Treacy was booked for a foul on 82 minutes just outside the left-hand side of the Hoops area the Students took their chance. The free-kick was low into the box and the ball fell for sub Shortall to score from close range.

The exciting finale to the game was marred when Darren Stapleton and goal scorer Shortall clashed in the 86th minute leaving the Hoops player in agony on the pitch. Darren was carried off and we can only hope his injury is not serious.

There was five minutes of added-on time in which Rovers almost won the game when O'Briens free-kick was knocked just over the crossbar by a UCD defender before an Ndo cross was dropped by Gregg but the Students 'keeper recovered to claim the ball.