Sport

St Patrick's fail to hit target as UCD gain precious point

UCD 0, St Patrick's Athletic 0: Though it was his side's sixth league game without a win, Paul Doolin was the happier manager…

Mon Feb 04 2002 - 00:00

UCD 0, St Patrick's Athletic 0: Though it was his side's sixth league game without a win, Paul Doolin was the happier manager as UCD secured a valuable point against St Patrick's Athletic, who did enough to win but couldn't turn their superiority into goals.

"We lost our last two games so it was important to get a result from this one," said Doolin. "Five points from St Pat's this season isn't a bad return."

In a tight first half it was St Patrick's who were the more disappointed having dictated the pace of the game. Martin Russell set the tone when firing inches over the UCD crossbar with a well struck free kick inside the opening minute.

Further efforts from Russell, Michael Holt and Paul Marney failed to make the breakthrough for the visitors.

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In between UCD's Mick O'Donnell wasted his side's best opening on 29 minutes. Kevin Grogan's flick was enough to put O'Donnell in behind the St Pat's defence. And though he skipped by Darragh Maguire, he was forced to stretch and only succeeded in toe-poking wide.

St Patrick's responded within a minute and Marney just failed to connect with a Charles Mbabazi cross. The same player was again to the fore dwn the right a minute before the break to set up Marney, but his shot was cleared off the line by Alan Mahon, back for College after a four-month injury lay-off.

St Patrick's took a firm grip on the game after the interval. Colm Foley headed wide from a Russell corner on 48 minutes before Barry Ryan did well to hold a shot from Michael Holt after a clever bit of play by Mbabazi.

UCD goalkeeper Ryan then did well to push out an awkward looping header from Paul Osam.

UCD almost snatched all three points in the final few minutes. Substitute Ciaran Martyn, played in by O'Donnell, blazed over the top, while Shay Kelly made a good stop from David Quinn.

UCD: B Ryan; Mahon, Delaney, Purdy, McAuley; J Martin, Doolin, Quinn, O'Donnell; R Martin (Martyn 75), Grogan.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Kelly; Croly, Maguire, Colm Foley, Burke (Griffin 89); McGuinness (McCarthy 63), Marney, Osam, Russell; Mbabazi, Holt (G Doyle 80).

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin)