Sport

Ryan settles the issue

Bohemians - 2 UCD - 1 : In the end it was the result they were looking for as Bohemians made a winning start to the new season…

Sat Jul 06 2002 - 01:00

Bohemians - 2 UCD - 1: In the end it was the result they were looking for as Bohemians made a winning start to the new season with a deserved win at Dalymount Park last night.

Stephen Kenny's side, however, were made to work hard for all three points as they were forced to come from behind.

Trailing to a Robert Doyle strike in the 26th minute they levelled before the interval through Paul Keegan before grabbing the winner in the 69th minute through substitute Bobby Ryan. Midfielder Ryan had only been on the pitch seven minutes when he found space for himself inside the box to squeeze his shot past UCD goalkeeper, Barry Ryan.

Yet the students had made life difficult for Bohemians in that second 45 minutes, with Richie Purdy a little unlucky not to head home on two occasions, although in fairness, Bohemians were denied a third just before the end when Glen Crowe's shot was brilliantly blocked by UCD defender Tony McDonnell.

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Bohemians were hoping for a repeat of last season's early-season victory over UCD when they hit six goals. The home side had begun brightly enough, looking to emphasise why they are many people's tip to land the title in this shortened season.

However, they were rocked when the students grabbed the lead goal, against the run of play - former Blackburn Rovers striker Robert Doyle curling home an unstoppable 25-yard free kick.

But seven minutes before the interval Bohemians were back on level terms when new signing from Bray, Keegan - who had earlier been denied by a superb one-handed save from Ryan - found the back of the net when stretching to convert Dave Morrison's cross.

However, Bohemians should never really have had to force themselves back into the game. As early as the second minute Crowe fired too high when he should have found the target, while Morrison should really have put them ahead on 12 minutes but fired wide of the goals from close range.

Crowe was then in the thick of the action again in the 17th minute when he capitalised on slack defending only to fire over.

BOHEMIANS: Bayes, O'Connor, Lynch, Hunt, Hawkins, McNally, Morrison, Harkin, Keegan, Crowe, Rutherford. Sub: Ryan for Morrison (62 mins).

UCD: Ryan, Mahon, McAuley, Purdy, Delany, McDonnell, Doyle, Doolan, R Martin, McNally, Finn. Sub: J Martin for McAuley (77 mins)

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).