It was very much the great escape for Waterford United at Belfield last night as they scored twice inside a minute very late on to salvage a point. Half-time substitute Dominic Iorfa was Waterford's hero, setting up the first before scoring a glorious equaliser with a 25-yard drive four minutes from time.
Karl Gannon started the revival a minute earlier when forcing the ball home after Barry Ryan could only parry a shot from Robert Griffin following Iorfa's run. It was very tough on a depleted UCD side who were cruising on the back of their 2-0 half-time lead.
However, the final result merely glossed over Waterford's problems as they had capitulated prior to their Houdini act. It might not have been such a chore for Waterford had Robert Griffin, playing against his former club, not wasted a glorious chance after only four minutes. Played through by Alan Kirby's excellent pass, Griffin volleyed straight at Ryan in the UCD goal when he should have scored.
Thereafter, it was all UCD as they ran up their 2-0 interval lead.
The first goal arrived on 14 minutes after a neat exchange of passes up the right by Kilmurray and Ciaran Martyn before Kilmurray shot home with the help of a deflection.
Fitzpatrick should have increased UCD's lead on 31 minutes but headed straight at Michael Devien after Ciaran Kavanagh's delightful cross picked him out.
But a second goal was inevitable and it arrived in first-half injury time. Devine totally missed a corner from the right by Ryan and captain Aiden Lynch arrived at the back post to head into the unguarded net.
UCD: Ryan; McLoughin, Delaney, Lynch, Mahon; Bennis, Kavanagh, Martyn, Ryan; Fitzpatrick, Kilmurray. Subs: McGetterick for Fitzpatrick (75 mins), Martin for Kilmurray (89 mins).
WATERFORD UNITED: Devine; Riordan, Smith, T McGrath; O'Brien, Kirby, D McGrath, Stirling, Hyslop; Griffin, Gannon. Subs: Iorfa for Stirling (half-time).
Referee: E Barr (Dublin).
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