McDonnell heads UCD to breakthrough win

UCD - 1 Bohemians - 0:FAI Premier Division: UCD captain Tony McDonnell was the hero of the hour as his 81st-minute strike gave his side their first win of the season - for good measure against the defending champions - at Belfield Park last night.

The students displayed more bite than in recent games, with Alan Cawley and McDonnell in particular standing out. It was Cawley who put them in front after 20 minutes when a free-kick from the edge of the box deflected off the top of the wall on its way to the net.

UCD continued to press forward for most of the first half, but their unfamiliarity with the last third of the pitch led to them squander the few chances they managed to squeeze out of the Bohemians defence.

First, Alan Gallen supplied winger John Martin but he fired his first-time shot against the outside of the post as Bohemians goalkeeper Shay Kelly narrowed the angle. Gallen then found himself clear on goal but failed to even find the target.

As the half wore on Bohemians came into the game more, with teenage Ukrainian striker Andrei Pereplyotkin, in for the injured Glen Crowe, forcing two great saves from UCD's Pat Jennings.

As expected, the champions came out with renewed zeal in the second half. They had a genuine, but unsuccessful, penalty appeal just after the restart, when Patrick Sullivan appeared to handle a Fergal Harkin shot.

Harkin had his side level on 53 minutes, the midfielder scrambling the ball into the UCD net on the second attempt after a goalmouth melee from a Bobby Ryan corner.

The visitors continued to press,with Paul Keegan heading against the crossbar before McDonnell popped up at the other end with the unlikely winner.

UCD: Jennings, Sullivan, Davey, McAuley, McNally, Whelan, Cawley, McDonnell, Griffin, Gallen, Martin. Subs: Donnelly for Whelan (76 mins); Martin for Gallen (78 mins); M O'Donnell for McAuley (84 mins)

BOHEMIANS: Kelly, Lynch, Webb, Oman, Hawkins, Ryan, Hunt, Harkin, Keegan, Pereplyotkin, Rutherford. Subs: Doyle for Pereplyotkin (80 mins); Caffrey for Harkin (83 mins); Morrisson for Webb (83 mins).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork)