UCD 2 Longford Town 1: UCD dethroned holders Longford Town in dramatic fashion last night, ending the visitors' bid for a third successive title to set up their own quarter-final showdown with Bray.
Longford deserved more from a game which they dominated and will be particularly aggrieved as they also bossed the drawn game on Saturday only to be denied by a controversial late penalty.
Already through to the League Cup final, it is evident College are enjoying their cup football this season. Despite playing second fiddle for most of the game, they finished with a late surge to stun the visiting fans.
Their determination was all the more commendable as they lost leading scorer Robbie Martin due to a first half injury.
Longford started brightly. Striker Dessie Baker and winger Gary Cronin were particularly inventive in the opening stages and it was no surprise when the breakthrough was made, after only eight minutes, that the duo were central to the move.
Baker dispossessed Brian Shorthall and played in Cronin with a neat back-heel. The winger raced into the box and shot hard and low at the far corner only to see his effort parried by Darren Quigley's outstretched hand. But, with no defenders on hand to clear the ball, Paul Keegan tapped home to the unguarded net.
Not content to protect such an early lead, the visitors went in search of a second. UCD, though, were far from bystanders and improved as the half progressed.
But, despite seeing more of the ball, they lacked the penetration required to unlock a mean Longford defence. Stephen Hurley, though, did give goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien cause for concern with a shot from distance, but the rising effort went wide.
UCD's cause was dealt a considerable blow when Martin went off with a suspected ankle injury following a Barry Ferguson challenge. But despite that setback, UCD remained composed and stunned Longford with a 41st-minute equaliser. Captain Tony McDonnell got ahead of his marker inside the area to steer home Hurley's left wing cross with a diving header.
Longford began the second half in eye-catching fashion and both John Martin and goalscorer Keegan teased McDonnell and his defenders time and again. Indeed, had Martin kept his shot from Seán Prunty's cross a fraction lower the visiting support might well have been celebrating.
However, against the run of play, UCD scored what proved to be the winner 10 minutes from time. Anto Murphy crossed from the right and winger Pat McWalter got ahead of last man Steven Gough to head low past O'Brien from close range.
UCD: Quigley; Mahon, McDonnell, Shorthall, O'Donnell; Gannon, Dicker, Hurley, McWalter; Martin, Murphy. Subs: Dupuy for Marting (35), McEniff for O'Donnell (60). Booked: Hurley (17).
LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; Gough, Ferguson, Dillon, Prunty; Kirby, Byrne, Martin, Cronin; Keegan, Baker. Subs: Paisley for Ferguson (half-time), Fitzgerald for Gough (85), Myler for Cronin (85). Booked: Martin (62).
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).
