AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION UCD 1 St Patrick's Athletic 0:ST PATRICK'S Athletic lost their place at the top of the Airtricity Premier Division table when a late, first-half headed goal by striker David McMillan gave UCD a deserved victory in a closely fought encounter at the Belfield Bowl last night.
The Inchicore team had an early chance when winger Gareth Coughlan cut in from the left and fired in a shot which was pushed round the post by goalkeeper Billy Brennan.
Straight up the other end UCD had an opportunity when Andy Boyle set up a chance for Greg Bolger only for the midfielder to shoot wide from 20 yards.
The visitors had a real chance to open their account on eight minutes when the College defence failed to clear a corner from Conor Sinnott on the right.
The ball fell kindly for Coughlan only for his effort to be deflected for a corner.
The Students then threatened on 11 minutes when a cross by Ciarán Nangle on the left was headed narrowly wide of the target by striker Ciarán Kilduff.
And it was the home side who went desperately close to breaking the deadlock when defender Brian Shortall put Chris Mulhall in possession, only for his 30-yard effort to be brilliantly pushed away by goalkeeper Gary Rogers.
St Patrick’s should have taken the lead midway through the first half when a cross by Brian Cash on the right was spilled by Brennan. But Coughlan’s effort from 14 yards was cleared off the line by defender Evan McMillan.
College eventually got their noses in front on 33 minutes when Mulhall put Paul Corry clear on the right. His perfect cross was powerfully headed home from eight yards by David McMillan into the roof of the net.
St Patrick’s almost equalised on 51 minutes when Sinnott put Coughlan clear on the left. His high cross was headed just over by midfielder Dave McAllister.
The Students, showing great composure in midfield, almost grabbed a second goal when a Corry corner on the right allowed Kilduff to get in a rocket of a shot which was brilliantly pushed round the post by Rogers.
The introduction of Ryan Guy and Paul Byrne seemed to add some urgency to St Patrick’s cause and they again went close when a Vinny Faherty header was just off target after a probing cross from the right by Derek Pender.
But with Evan McMillan and Boyle outstanding in the heart of the College defence, there was no way through for the Inchicore men, although a late Cash header was just over after Byrne had created the opening.
UCD: Brennan; Shortall, E McMillan, Boyle, Nangle; Corry, Bolger, Mulhall; D McMillan, Kilduff (Creevy 73), Wilson (McMahon 73).
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Pender, Kenna, Guthrie, Bermingham; Cash, McAllister, Mulcahy, Coughlan (Guy 64); Sinnott (Byrne 64), Faherty (Williams 76).
Referee: Pádraig Sutton(Clare).
