Sherlock shakes his blues

JASON SHERLOCK returned to the blue shirt of UCD yesterday and was instrumental in earning them a point from the opening game in Group F with Bray Wanderers at Belfield.

A poor game only came to life when Bray took the lead on 61 minutes. Former UCD player Danny Horan beat Eamonn McLoughlin out on the left to cross for Ritchie Parsons, who turned and laid off for the unmarked Kieran O'Brien, the League Cup's top scorer last season, to shoot home from 10 yards.

Within seven minutes, Sherlock won a penalty, after he was hauled down by Bray's Terry Berry. Mick O'Byrne sent Bray goalkeeper John Walsh the wrong way from the spot.

Connacht Senior League champions UCG gave Limerick FC a fright in a thrilling 3-3 draw in a Group C game at Terryland Park.

UCG took a 34th minute lead when Paudie Murray headed home Tom McGrath's well flighted cross. Limerick continued to struggle until half time, but got on top in the third quarter to take a 2-1 lead. Howard King set up Anthony Tobin to equalise within two minutes of the re-start and then got Limerick's second himself from close range on 65 minutes.

UCG were level within a minute when Pat Curran controlled Colm Costello's pass to shoot past Eddie Hickey in the Limerick goal. King then got his second to restore Limerick's lead on 85 minutes when his shot deflected off Kevin Cassidy to beat UCG goalkeeper Padraig Lally. Just when they seemed beaten UCG substitute Kenny Gavin crossed for Kieran Foley to earn the students a point with a fine headed equaliser with only a minute remaining.

In Saturday night's games, Shelbourne ended a run of five matches without a win to come from behind to beat Home Farm Everton in a surprisingly ill tempered Group E clash at Whitehall. Limerick referee Tony Ryan's handling of the game continually frustrated the players whose niggling challenges threatened disorder on several occasions.

Trevor Vaughan gave HF Everton a third minute lead, which they held until the 72nd minute when Stephen Geoghegan punished a mistake by Farm's young defender, Graham Doyle, to equalise. John O'Rourke injured himself in the process of heading home the winner six minutes from time.

Kilkenny City goalkeeper Ashley Stephenson saved a sixth minute penalty as his side went on to win 2-1 against Cobh Ramblers, at St Colman's Park, in Group A. Darren Kavanagh, for Kilkenny, and Cobh's Gerald Kielty, a former Irish youth international, exchanged goals before Pat McCarthy snatched the three points for Kilkenny with his first goal for the club.

Derry City took the initiative in the north west's Group B, but had to come from behind to win 2-1 at Finn Harps. New signing Davy Dowling gave Harps the perfect start when heading them in front from John Gerard McGettigan's free kick after only three minutes. A Gary Beckett chip brought Derry on level terms just before half time, and a Paul Curran header, five minutes before the final whistle, saw the points return over the border.

Sligo Rovers, last season's beaten finalists, were stunned by a last minute equaliser from Fanad United's George Grier in their 1-1 draw at the Showgrounds.