SPORTING FINAL 1 UCD 2
Sporting Fingal were hit by an Evan McMillan sucker-punch in the 87th minute as UCD snatched all three points to dent the Ravens' title hopes.
It was a deserved victory for the Students as they bounced back after falling behind to an early Eamon Zayed goal. This was only Fingal's third league defeat of the season and the first to any opposition other than Bohemians.
An inability to take their chances and poor defending from set-pieces cost Fingal dearly and most home fans will have left Morton Stadium on Friday night wondering how their side failed to capitalise on their early lead.
And what will be even more galling for Ravens' supporters will be the fact that table-toppers St. Pats could only draw with Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Saturday night, which meant a Fingal victory would have kept them second to the Inichore side on goal-difference alone.
As it is, Fingal dropped to fourth place following the defeat to UCD, which puts the Students straight-back into the title race as they are now only two points behind Fingal and five behind St. Pats.
Zayed and Glen Crowe started up front once again for the home side. And Zayed justified his inclusion three minutes into the game. Conan Byrne fizzed a low ball across UCD 'keeper Billy Brennan's goalmouth, allowing Zayed to smash home from close-range.
UCD were shell-shocked by such an early concession but refused to deviate from their passing game - and the Students' perseverance paid off after 18 minutes.
Paul Corry's inswinging free-kick was met at the back-post by Andy Boyle, who had ghosted into the six yard box unmarked, and his header flew past the helpless Brendan Clarke. With the scores level chances started coming thick and fast for both sides.
A ball in behind by Evan McMillan caught the Fingal backline square near the halfway line and Ciaran Kilduff sprinted onto it, chased all the way by Fingal skipper Shaun Williams. By the time the striker got into the penalty area - the ball bobbling slightly and his angle narrowing the closer he got to Clarke's goal - he blazed his left-footed effort high over the crossbar. Kilduff held his head, as did the UCD fans who thought it was a certain goal.
On 30 minutes, the tricky Dwayne Wilson left Fingal full-back Lorcan Fitzgerald on his backside before squaring to David McMillan who had a clear sight of goal from eight yards - but his shot was a little too high and Clarke saved-well from point blank range.
And UCD came even closer to taking the lead just before half-time when the other McMillan brother, Evan, rose highest at a corner to power a header goalwards - only to see a well-positioned Fitzgerald hack his effort off the line.
Fingal started the second-half stronger and should have had the lead on 50 minutes. Crowe passed the ball out wide to Alan Kirby whose cut-back found Byrne on the right-hand side of the box. Under pressure from McMillan, Byrne did well to swivel and shoot but saw his effort fly past the far post.
Crowe and Kirby linked up again on the hour mark. Receiving the ball from Crowe, the number ten jinked inside McMillan before unleashing a powerful shot that forced a fine save from Brennan.
Fingal upped the ante and Kirby looked certain to score until McMillan got a crucial touch on his shot to prevent a goal. Moments later, Boyle nearly went from hero to villain when he sliced a Ronan Finn cross from the right-wing onto his own post.
But it was UCD who emerged with all three points as Evan McMillan punished more slack defending at set-pieces by scoring the goal his performance deserved - typically, a header - with only three minutes remaining.
TEAMS:
Sporting Fingal: Brendan Clarke; Colm James, Shaun Williams (c), Brian Gannon, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Conan Byrne, Ronan Finn, Shane McFaul, Alan Kirby (Shane Barrett, 87 mins); Eamon Zayed (Keith Quinn, 79 mins), Glen Crowe. Subs not used: Darren Quigley, Stephen Paisley, Kevin Dawson.
UCD: Billy Brennan; Brian Shorthall (Sean Harding, 71 mins), Andy Boyle, Evan McMillan (c), Ciaran Nangle; Paul Corry, (Paul O'Conor, 81 mins), Chris Mulhall, Robbie Creavy (Stephen Roche, 75 mins); Dwayne Wilson, Ciaran Kilduff, David McMillan. Subs not used: Ger Barron, Keith Ward.
Ref: Graham Kelly (Cork)
Attendance: 511
MATCH STATS (Sporting Fingal/UCD):
Shots: 21/10
Corners: 7/6
Fouls: 6/6
Offsides: 3/2
Bookings/red cards: none/Paul Corry
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