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Ronan Finn was on the scoresheet for the Hoops. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
hoops in pursuit

Rovers breathe life into title challenge as Students put to bed early

First half goals from dean Kelly and Ronan Finn did the job for Trevor Croly’s men.

UCD 0-2 Shamrock Rovers

SHAMROCK ROVERS PUT themselves back in contention for the title race by picking up a 2-0 win away to UCD thanks to goals from Ronan Finn and Dean Kelly. Two first half goals from the pair was the difference in an important win away from home for the Hoops.

A professional win from Rovers leaves them five points a drift of league leaders Dundalk with UCD not providing a lot of attacking threat to put this result in any doubt.

Rovers made four changes to the side that lost to Cork City before the mid season break with the returning Conor Kenna providing stability to a defence which had leaked 2 goals to Cork last time out.

That stability was tested early on when, after three minutes, lively UCD full back Hughie Douglas saw his header saved smartly by Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper, Barry Murphy. A dangerous free kick found Douglas all on his own but Murphy composed himself enough to catch it. That move proved to be a dud as Rovers took over and controlled possession in every part of this game.

Kelly almost broke the deadlock after sixteen minutes when his free kick left UCD goalkeeper, Conor O’Donnell, flat footed but did not have enough direction behind it to score.

Dean Kelly scores from the penalty spot 5/5/2014 Dean Kelly was on the mark for the visitors. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

UCD found it difficult to gain any foothold in the game but found a rare chance after twenty minutes when Douglas got behind Rob Cornwall to lay a pass on for Robbie Benson but the UCD captain could not adjust himself quick enough to get a shot off.

The pressure from Rovers told on the twenty sixth minute when Finn scored. Great play from Robert Bayly allowed him to find Simon Madden on the right wing where the quick thinking full back found Finn in the six yard box with all the time in the world to score.

Centre midfielder Bayly played a part in goal number two also when a smart pass found Gary McCabe on the right hand side who whipped it onto the head of Kelly who had no choice but to score on the stroke of half time.

The second half provided some solace for the Students with more space opening up behind the Hoops defence. UCD attacker Samir Belhout broke free from the clutches of Conor Kenna on the sixty third minute but Murphy in the goals measured the situation smartly and stopped the chance.

A tired UCD team looked like they were suffering the effects of a break as they finished the game poorly with the visitors tormenting the goal non stop but ultimately Rovers had to settle with the two goals to leave them in a good place ahead of the derby with St. Patrick’s Athletic.

UCD: Conor O’Donnell; Hughie Douglas, James Kavanagh, Mark Langtry, Gareth Matthews; Robbie Benson (Burke, 72), Tomas Boyle, Robbie Creevy, Chris Mulhall (Molloy, 63), Colm Crowe; Samir Belhout.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Rob Cornwall, Conor Kenna, Jason McGuinness, Simon Madden; Robert Bayly (Robinson, 82), Ronan Finn,; Gary McCabe, Sean O’Connor (Sheppard, 70), Dean Kelly (Kilduff, 75); Eamon Zayed.

Airtricity League Premier Division results

UCD 0-2 Shamrock Rovers
Drogheda United 1-2 Sligo Rovers
St. Patrick’s Athletic 3-2 Bray Wanderers
Cork City 3-0 Limerick FC
Derry City 2-2 Dundalk
Bohemians 2-2 Athlone Town

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