SLIGO ROVERS must concentrate on the FAI Cup as an avenue to European football next season as their Premier Division title hopes were swept aside by Michael O'Byrne at Belfield Park yesterday.
The UCD striker was on target twice to effectively guarantee his club a place in the top flight next season. O'Byrne volleyed home a 20 yard effort nine minutes after the interval which cancelled out Padraig Moran's opener for Sligo in 36 minutes.
He then secured the three vital points when calmly stroking a penalty past goalkeeper Mark McLean in the 62nd minute. Ciaran Kavanagh's late third goal for UCD was the icing on the cake.
O'Byrne must now be considered for a place in the Republic's line up for the under 21 international against Russia at United Park, Drogheda tomorrow night.
Donegal referee Wilfred Wallace will not be the most popular in Sligo after this game. Twice Moran was denied what looked like certain spot kicks.
However, the westerners eventually broke the deadlock when a clever through ball by fullback Robert Brunton enabled Moran to score from 12 yards.
The introduction of substitute Eamon McLaughlin proved a master stroke for UCD at the interval. His cross from the right on 54 minutes was vollied perfectly home by O'Byrne. Their second just eight minutes later followed a marvellous 40 yard run by Kavanagh who was up ended by Brunton. Up stepped the confident O'Byrne to shoot home the spot kick.
Inevitably, O'Byrne was again involved in the move for the third goal. His corner on the left allowed Palmer to get in a shot from close range blocked by McLean. But Kavanagh showed alertness when tapping home the rebound to complete Sligo's day of misery.
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