Bohemian Football Club Crest

Despite coming under enormous late pressure, UCD held out to deny the Champions Bohemians back-to-back league victories.

It continues a frustrating start to the season for the Phibsboro side who have won just one of their past seven league meetings. Still, Bohemians remain strongly in contention for the title and can take heart from the effort shown in the second half.

The home side were slow to begin here. The visitors were the first to threaten 17 minutes in when the striker, Peter McMahon, had a free header cleared off the line from Paul Corry’s corner kick.

UCD’s formation, meanwhile, could either be viewed as a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 system depending on your perspective, more often as they defended, it resembled the latter.

Bohemians responded with Anto Murphy’s fine low cross being thrashed high over the bar by Jason Byrne. But UCD offered a serious threat on the counter-attack in those early stages. Ciaran Kilduff sprang clear on the left flank and curled a dangerous shot a yard past Barry Murphy’s far post.

Jason Byrne passed up a great opportunity on 39 minutes after fine build up play between him and the captain, Paul Keegan, with Byrne dragging his shot wide when afforded plenty of room. Mark Quigley was next to spurn a simple offering on the stroke of half-time. Brian Shelley rampaged down the right wing and crossed for Quigley who hammered straight at the goalkeeper, Billy Brennan, from point-blank range.

There was certainly an air of confidence emanating from this UCD side. Their good form is no coincidence as they are unbeaten in four games, earning a crucial 2-0 victory over Drogheda United in their last outing. Some experts predicted the Belfield Bowl club would be wallowing in the first division for the foreseeable future when being relegated over a year ago. This argument arose mainly from the viewpoint UCD have restricted financial resources compared to other clubs occupying that league. What UCD do possess is a brilliant scholarship scheme that allows their players to combine a football career with the opportunity of earning third level qualifications. Something Bohemians’ legend Kevin Hunt himself knows much about. The scheme has proven hugely successful for UCD through the years.

Quigley again threatened at the beginning of the second half, flashing a long-range effort inches away from the right-hand post, before Murphy went wide with a six-yard header from Ruaidhrí Higgins free-kick.

Bohemians were continuing to toil in breaking down their opponents and had a serious scare on 67 minutes. They owed an outstanding last-ditch clearance to Paul Keegan when he prevented Kilduff from teeing up David McMillan for a tap-in. Martin Russell’s side have the joint-second tightest defence in the league and were strong at the back throughout.

The substitute, Killian Brennan, so often deadly from set-pieces, was presented with a 25-yard effort but a UCD defender got his body in the way and it came to nothing. The pressure on the UCD goal was fierce late on but they held out to thwart a frustrated Bohemians.

Bohemians: B Murphy; Shelley, McGuinness, Oman, Rossiter; A Murphy (Brennan, 69), Cronin (Madden, 61), Keegan, Quigley (Greene, 75); Byrne, Higgins

UCD: Brennan; Harding, Boyle, E.McMillan, Shortall (Nangle 54); Corry, Bolger, McMahon (Creevy, 81); Mulhall, Kilduff, McMillan (Wilson, 86)

Possession: Bohs: 57% UCD: 43%

Corners: Bohs: 7 UCD: 7

Attempts on target: Bohs: 3 UCD: 1

Attempts off target: Bohs: 7 UCD: 2

Bookings: Bohs: None UCD: Seán Harding, Brian Shortall

Sent off: Bohs: None UCD: None

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork)