CIE Ranch 2

UCD 6 aet

Dave Donnelly reports from Greenogue

A LAST-MINUTE goal from Jason McClelland spared UCD blushes against 10-man Leinster Senior League side CIE Ranch in Greenogue on Friday night.

The Students were on the brink of going out after an own goal and a header from Eddie Smith put the amateur side two goals to the good within the opening half-hour.

Goals from Yoyo Mahdy and McClelland forced extra time, however, and Sean McDonald put Collie O’Neill’s side in front before Mahdy, McClelland and Gary O’Neill scored four in extra time.

The amateur side hit the front with just nine minutes on the clock as Dan Tobin inadvertently turned Graham Griffiths’ cross past his own keeper.

And they were in dreamland shortly after, when a cross from when centre-half Smith powered home a header from the corner.

UCD eventually got a hold on the game and began to dominate possesion, with full-backs Tobin and Evan Osam pushing right up and forcing the Ranch midfield to sit deep.

The Students looked unlikely to add to Mahdy’s goal during the first half, with a Kevin Coffey curler well saved by Sean Brazil their best effort.

Brazil went one better with a fine full-stretch save to deny McClelland’s header, after Mahdy had caught a Ranch defender in possession.

As the second half wore on, it looked more and more likely the hosts would hold on, even after captain Gary Sullivan saw red for a nasty tackle through the back of Conor Davis.

McClelland took his chance in the 89th minute, however, and there was controversy as Ranch believed another header from Smith in injury time had crossed the goal-line, but nothing was given.

Extra time saw the 10 men, playing just their third game of the season, wilt and sub McDonald took advantage, hooking home after Neil Farrugia’s shot was blocked.

Mahdy blasted home number four and McClelland added a fifth with a fine solo effort, before O’Neill capped off the win late on.

CIE RANCH: Sean Brazil; James Bracken, Keith Eagers, Edward Smith, Glenn McCabe; Lee O’Sullivan (Anthony Thomas 98), Gary Sullivan, Dean O’Brien, Graham Griffiths; Liam Cummins (Paul Uzell 66), Patrick Byrne (Jordan Griffiths 79).

UCD: Conor Kearns; Dan Tobin, Josh Collins (Sean McDonald 86), Liam Scales, Evan Osam; Paul Doyle (Daire O’Connor 73) Gary O’Neill, Kevin Coffey (Neil Farrugia 64); Conor Davis, Jason McClelland, Yoyo Mahdy.

Referee: Rob Rogers.

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