UCD 0 Galway Utd 1:IT WAS a wild night here, and for those who made the journey to see Jeff Kenna's men cling onto top-flight status by a point, it probably became a good deal wilder after the final whistle. The former Ireland international looked set to enjoy his night, too, after an anxious closing spell during which a solitary goal on the break would have sent the visitors down.
United held on well, though, to win a scrappy game thanks to a first-half goal by John Fitzgerald, and afterwards Kenna looked and sounded like a man who was relishing the moment as much as any he had during his playing days.
"It's massive," he shouted as those all around him celebrated. "The players have to be really proud of themselves and I'm certainly proud of them. To come from where we were to stay up like this is a massive achievement.
"The team spirit was absolutely outstanding, everybody was in it for each other and in the end we deserved what we got."
He darted away, talking with some relish about next season. But nobody knows whether he will stay on. A decent offer in England, where his family still live, would surely tempt him away.
But if he does leave he will go with a bonus that almost doubles the wages he has received from United since he replaced Tony Cousins in April and with a place in the heart of the fans who joyously chanted his name last night.
Their own hopes of survival having disappeared a few weeks back, UCD were playing here for pride and, indirectly of course, for Finn Harps, whose chances of staying up depended on United managing only a result here that could be bettered up at Ballybofey.
Over the opening half hour, the home side's display would presumably have met with Paul Hegarty's approval. As they have all season, the students lacked a cutting edge up front, but with a strong, blustery breeze behind them they more than held their own and there were a couple of chances to steal a lead over the visitors.
Shane Duggan went closest, firing over from the edge of the area after Shane Fitzgerald had done well down the right, but Pat McWalter also almost grabbed an unlikely opener with a looping shot, struck while he had his back to the target, that narrowly cleared the bar.
Cheered on by a large and loud travelling support, though, United gradually settled and did well enough, given the conditions, to force a handful of corners during the opening period. A couple of Harps fans had just started celebrating word of a goal up in Donegal when from one, 36 minutes in, Alan Murphy floated over a cross that Vinny Faherty flicked on for Fitzgerald to volley goalwards. Just short of the line Alan McNally got a touch, but he couldn't keep the ball out and the majority of the crowd embarked on a celebration that wasn't to stop until well after the final whistle.
There were a few anxious moments along the way, but for the most part United got increasingly on top of what was always a frantic encounter.
With the wind behind them in the second half, the visitors found it easier to work their way forward, although perhaps because of the breeze too they repeatedly gave away possession and consequently found it hard to carve out real chances.
Still, they should have doubled their lead when Jay O'Shea, almost certainly destined for Derby County, sent in a perfect cross from the right, but Faherty couldn't keep his header down.
Had UCD grabbed an equaliser the miss would have caused a good deal of anguish for the striker, but in truth they never really came close.
Every one of the Galway players was entitled to play his part in the celebrations, for every one who featured last night played a role in their great escape.
UCD: Gregg; Mahon, Shortall (McMillan, 19 mins), McNally, Kenna; Fitzgerald, McFaul (King, 83 mins), Duggan (Meenan, 64 mins), Bermingham; McWalter, Finn.
GALWAY UNITED: Rogers; Connelly, A Keane, Fitzgerald, McCulloch; J Keane (Russell, 76 mins), Lester, Murphy (Jorgensen, 83 mins), Foley (Davoren, 66 mins); Faherty, O'Shea.
Referee: T Connolly (Dublin).
