AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION UCD 0 Dundalk 2:DUNDALK got back on the winning trail when two late goals by striker Mark Griffin gave them the three points in a tense Premier Division clash against UCD at the Belfield Bowl last night.
A crowd of 332 saw Dundalk dominate the early stages with their best chance falling to winger Danny Kearns whose shot from the left was pushed away by College goalkeeper Ger Barron.
Griffin nearly had the ball in the net with a header seconds before the interval after a neat interchange of passes between Simon Madden and Ross Gaynor. The ball struck the underside of the crossbar but failed to cross the line.
Against the run of play, College nearly had their noses in front on 48 minutes when midfielder Paul O’Connor powered in a shot from 16 yards which was headed off the line by defender Nathan Murphy with goalkeeper Peter Cherrie beaten.
The Students went close again when O’Connor sent in a cross from the right which fell to Sean Russell whose shot was blocked by Murphy.
The home side were to regret those misses as Dundalk took the lead on 72 minutes when a low cross by Gaynor on the left was fired home from close range by striker Griffin.
Griffin pounced again in added time when shooting home from four yards after a free by substitute Keith Ward had rebounded off the woodwork.
UCD: Barron; Harding, D OConnor, Leahy, Nangle; Marshall, Corry, P OConor, Meenan, Russell (Benson 60), Belhout (Doyle 77).
DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Hawkins, Hector, Murphy; Kearns, Bennett (Ward 62), Bolger, Gaynor; Griffin, Quigley.
Referee: Anthony Buttimer(Cork).
