LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION Drogheda Utd 1 UCD 0:A GOAL 1 3 minutes from time settled this one as Drogheda recorded their first win over UCD at the fifth time of asking this season. Alan McNally rose above everyone else to head home Joe Kendrick's corner.
Both sides had their chances in an even first half that saw Michael Daly’s shot-cum-cross for the home side call goalkeeper Billy Brennan into action, while at the other end, Ciarán Kilduff’s header was cleared from the line by Corey Treacy.
Paul Corry should have scored for the students but guided a free header wide before a Kendrick free was flicked on by Daly to Paul Crowley, who saw Brennan make another fine stop.
With 32 minutes gone the home side were awarded a penalty when Ryan Brennan was upended by Ciarán Nangle. However, Kendrick hammered the spot kick off the post and wide.
Right on the half-time whistle United goalkeeper Paul Murphy raced from his line to bravely save at Kilduff’s feet as he bore down on goal.
Drogheda saw a number of chances come and go at the start of the second half as Colm Smyth was denied by Brennan; Daly’s header came off a defender as it sailed towards the net; and both Brennan and O’Connor clipped shots narrowly wide.
However, Kilduff should have broken the deadlock for UCD when he guided a header just off target and then had a shot parried back to him by Murphy which he rapped off the post.
DROGHEDA: Murphy; Treacy (Smyth h/t), Kendrick, McNally, McGill E, McGill B (Kerr h/t), Crowley, Flood, O'Connor, Daly, Brennan.
UCD: Brennan; Shortall, Nangle (Harding 78), Boyle, McMillan, Bolger, Ward (Rusk 64), Corry, Kilduff, Mulhall, Wilson, N Doyle.
Referee: A Kelly(Cork).
Attendance: 350
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