Drogheda United 2 UCD 1: THE INTRODUCTION of Richie Baker with half an hour to go finally got Drogheda going when they came back from a goal down at the break to win a match they never looked like getting back into until that point.
Baker grabbed the equaliser and was involved in everything positive, including the corner which led to a late penalty that won it for the defending champions.
With four minutes remaining in the first half a defensive calamity handed UCD the lead.
As home goalkeeper Jamie Ewings came for a Derek Doyle cross, centre half John Tambouras got there ahead of him but only managed to head the ball out to Ronan Finn who drilled his shot to the unguarded goal.
The opening quarter of an hour of the second half drifted along aimlessly until Shane Robinson's cross into the box found Adam Hughes who failed for the second time in the match to get good contact on the ball right in front of the target.
On 67 minutes Drogheda drew level when Baker stole a yard on the visitors' defence as he superbly directed his header from Paul Keegan's cross past UCD goalkeeper Matt Gregg to the net.
With seven minutes remaining United got the winner when Conor Kenna handled Baker's corner and Robinson rifled the resulting penalty kick past Gregg.
DROGHEDA UNITED:Ewings, Kendrick, Tambouras, Gartland, Robinson, Hughes, Byrne, Zayed (Baker 60), Keegan, Cahill, Kuduzovic.
UCD:Gregg, Mahon (Shortall 46), Bermingham, Kenna, McMillan, King, McNally (Byrne 86), Finn, McWalter, McFaul, Doyle (O'Neill 86).
Referee:T Connolly (Dublin).
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