THERE'LL be groans from some Premier Division clubs, who have lived through a 90 minutes like Dundalk endured yesterday, amid good will from others. UCD will be with them again next season. That much was ensured at Belfield Park yesterday with a victory which may well condemn Dundalk to the play off.
In truth there was never much danger of UCD being ensnared by the play off, this ninth home win of the season following the well read script in which so many others have been written. The sun shone brightly on the sleepy sylvan setting (sure the top flight would be poorer without them) and it was a classically clinically UCD win, with one notable oddity - the two early goals which launched them on their way came from, of all things, set pieces. Wimbledon they ain't, and never will be.
Dundalk's defending for the goals was abysmal, something Eddie May reflected ruefully on and at length. His squad "definitely needs a change in personnel, there's no doubt about that", he ventured ominously.
Dundalk shuffled things around and showed a good deal more spirit than they had done in the first half, presumably after a proverbial half time rocket from Eddie May, but the students competed feverishly around the established rocks that are now Aidan Lynch and Tony McDonnell.
Robbie Griffin, double goalscorer from midfield last Sunday, a centre half in a deep lying five man defence on Tuesday, reverted to midfield and was then switched up front when Andy Myler tweaked a hamstring. Griffin's ensuing double gave him seven for the season and makes him UCD's leading scorer.
Four players had gone into the game sharing that honour with a mere five apiece, probably the single biggest reason UCD will finish in mid table rather than qualify for Europe. Briefly, Myler enjoyed the distinction on his own when coming off the goal line to glance Jason Colwell's fifth minute corner inside the far post. The marking was non existent.
Missing five relatively senior regulars at this point, this was one of UCD's youngest teams ever.
Benefiting from far greater movement off the ball, and thus looking far more potent on the break, UCD struck again on 36 minutes just after Seamus Kelly had saved in quick succession from Jonathan Prizeman's swerving 20 yard drive and Joe Gallen's weak point blank header.
Robert McAuley won the free on the left which Colwell delivered deep beyond the far post for Griffin to score with a textbook downward header.
May took Peter Withnell and Tom McNulty off, moving Raymond Campbell up front and playing Brian Byrne in behind the front men. It gave them more movement and variety. Although UCD looked comfortable, at times their offside trap lived precariously and Seamus Kelly had to come bravely from his line to deny Gallen before turning another long range Prizeman shot around the post. On the break, Jason Sherlock was the provider in releasing McAuley, Griffin (who should have scored) and Kavanagh.
Two minutes from time Dundalk earned themselves a modicum of hope when Gallen sprung the offside trap to Prizeman's lofted ball, tucking his shot past Kelly. UCD's response was swift, Sherlock dispossessing Mick Doohan as the defender sought to shepherd the ball over the bye-line, and crossing for Griffin to tap in nonchantly.
