Ulster University undone by three second half UCD goals in Ryan Cup

RYAN CUP QUARTER FINAL – HIGHER EDUCATION SENIOR FOOTBALL
University College Dublin 3-10
Ulster University 2-11

By Michael McMullan

THREE second half goals saw UCD come from five points down to see off Ulster University in an open game on Wednesday in the Jordanstown.

The home side, with Conor Cush hitting 1-7, own the first half, but six first half wides kept UCD in contention.

A Ryan Jones goal after six minutes shot Barry Dillon’s side into a 1-1 to 0-1 lead.

With Cush moving well in attack and midfield control,, UU were always able to keep in control and were 1-7 t0 0-5 ahead with late points from Cush (2) and Pól McKervey.

Ryan Jones was the launchpad for UU’s attacks, but UCD introduced former Kerry minor star Fiachra Clifford to occupy him from wing forward.

UCD manager John Divilly was barking at goalkeeper Gary O’Rourke to settle on his kick-outs and urged his men to position themselves on the outs on UU’s restarts to limit the options for Odhran Lynch.

It took a fisted clearance to clear a Garland chance off the line in the 32nd minute but the Farney ace made no mistake with a fine fetch from Pearse Ruttledge’s diagonal ball to give Lynch no chance with the goal that turned the screw on an already changing game.

Ten minutes later the UU net was bulging again, this time it was a deft O’Carroll finish before centre back O’Keane buried a rasper to open a 3-8 to 1-9 lead and put UCD well on their way to the semi-finals.

UU: Odhran Lynch; Ryan Convery, Ronan McCaffrey, Conall Devlin; Ryan Jones (1-0), Ryan Magill, Josh Largo Elis; Odhran Murdock, Tom Close; Pól McKervey (0-2), Dominic McEnhill, Ryan Cunningham; Ben McCarron (0-2, 1f), Karl Gallagher, Conor Cush (1-7, 1f, 1 ‘45’)
Subs: Michael Gallagher for K Gallagher (13), Dara Curran for C Devlin (40), Gareth Donaghy for J Largo Elis (41), Danny Magill for P McKervey (41)

UCD: Gary O’Rourke; Harry Donaghy, James Moran, Malachy Stone; Cormac Egan, Patrick O’Keane (1-0), Kieran Kennedy; Senan Forker, Paul Tolan; Pearse Ruttledge, Luke Breathnach, Diarmuid Moriarty (0-2); David Garland (1-3, 1f, 1m), Ben O’Carroll (1-4), Daire Cregg (0-1)
Subs: Fiachra Clifford for P Tolan (HT), Liam Smith for H Donaghy (HT), Sean Coffey for P Ruttledge (47), Ciaran Sugrue for L Breathnach (47), Brian Cox for M Stone (55), A damKenneally for P O’Keane (59)

Referee: Martin Conroy (Tyrone)