UCD ARE IN the driving seat ahead of Tuesday’s return leg in the semi-final playoff thanks to goals in either half from Louis Dignam and Hugh Smith, while the other semi-final is finely poised as Bray Wanderers take a narrow lead back to the Carlisle Grounds as Richard Ferizaj and Ben McCormack goals were halved by Kerry’s Sean McGrath – who saw Sean O’Connell receive his marching orders late on.
In a weird twist of fate for fans of palindromic results, the records in both sides’ four meetings this season were identical prior to kick-off.
Both Longford and UCD and Kerry and Bray’s head-to-head results read as a win each and two draws against each other as they went to war.
But something had to give over the next couple of games as all four looked for that much coveted chance to return to the top table in Irish football.
At a windswept Bishopsgate, and looking to go up for the first time since 2020, Longford made their first appearance at this stage since 2022 and spurned a glorious chance to take the lead early on when the off-balance Aaron Doran failed to hit the target with the goal at his mercy.
The conditions continued to play havoc with but the exciting Charles Akinrintayo looked dangerous down the left.
Having earned a confidence boosting 5-2 win away at Wexford in preparation, the Students took the lead just before the half hour mark in spectacular fashion. One of the league’s top stars Dignam showed why there is such a furore around him as he flicked up the ball with his heel, that was slightly behind him, and volleyed in one of the goals of the season.
Undeterred, the hosts kept pressing and would have been level just before the hour mark only for Dara Kavanagh to deny James Bailey with cat-like reflexes. But as they threw bodies forward The ‘Town were undone when Mikey McCullagh’s inswinging cross was glanced home by Hugh Smith to give his side a vital two goal lead.
Meanwhile, play-off first timers Kerry FC welcomed regulars at this stage, Bray Wanderers, who were looking to go one step further than the previous two years where they fell at the final hurdle in their bid to go up being defeated by Premier Division sides Drogheda United in 2024 and Waterford last season.
And it was the spirited hosts, with a hefty wind at their backs, who started sharp and some inside Mounthawk Park thought their heroes had taken the lead when Cian Bargary whipped a free kick from just outside the box inches Rian Hogan’s left-hand post. Niall Brookwell then had his head in his hands in disbelief as he found himself free at the back post but somehow volleyed over from a couple of yards following a long throw that got caught up in the swirling wind.
Having weathered a storm on and off the pitch The Seagulls had the ball in the back of the net when Tyreik Sammy latched onto Alain Kizenga’s through ball, but had strayed just offside.
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Less than 10-minutes after the restart, Bray broke the deadlock following some excellent link up play between their talented attacking midfield duo McCormack and Ferizaj.
The former dinked a delightful ball onto the head of the 17-year-old who contorted his body to flick home a header facing away from goal – reminiscent of a Chicharito header against Stoke City in 2010.
Provider turned goalscorer just over 10-minutes later when McCormack smashed home from distance but just three minutes after the visitors had celebrated, it was game on again through a well taken McGrath goal who popped up at the back post following great work on the opposite flank by Bargary.
But their desperation to equalise got the better of the side from the Kingdom when Sean O’Connell received a straight red card in injury time for a reckless challenge trying to stop a Bray counter-attack.
*****
League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division
Final round
Bohemians 1-2 Shamrock Rovers
Wexford 4-0 Waterford
Athlone Town 4-2 Cork City
Treaty United 3-2 DLR Waves
Meanwhile, Women’s Premier Division three-in-a-row champions Athlone Town rounded out their season with a 4-2 win over Cork City.
Golden Boot leader Dana Scheriff scored her 17th goal to help the Midlanders to victory. Scheriff’s goal was Athlone’s third in the 26th minute, with Madie Gibson and Hannah Waesch having netted before her.
Another game, another goal for Dana Scheriff 🔥
EVOKE Golden Boot award pending ⏳ https://t.co/QIC070JEmA
City hit back through Zoe Finnerty and Ellie O’Brien either side of half-time, but Alexis Strickland wrapped up all three points for Athlone, who bid farewell to the retiring Noelle Murray with a mid-game standing ovation from both sides.
Elsewhere, Lauryn McCabe – younger sister of Ireland captain Katie – scored her first Women’s Premier Division goal for Bohemians, but Shamrock Rovers hit back to win the final game under the Dalymount Park lights after Sadhbh Doyle’s double.
Treaty United and Wexford won Saturday’s other games. Treaty held off a DLR Waves fightback, winning 3-2 after goals from Katie Lawlee and Caroline Penner (two), while Wexford eased to a 4-0 victory over Waterford.
In the games moved to Sunday due to Storm Boelo, Galway United and Shelbourne face off for second place – and European football – while Sligo Rovers host Peamount United.
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UCD and Bray Wanderers take advantage to second leg of play-off semi-finals
League of Ireland Men’s First Division
Play-off semi-finals
UCD ARE IN the driving seat ahead of Tuesday’s return leg in the semi-final playoff thanks to goals in either half from Louis Dignam and Hugh Smith, while the other semi-final is finely poised as Bray Wanderers take a narrow lead back to the Carlisle Grounds as Richard Ferizaj and Ben McCormack goals were halved by Kerry’s Sean McGrath – who saw Sean O’Connell receive his marching orders late on.
In a weird twist of fate for fans of palindromic results, the records in both sides’ four meetings this season were identical prior to kick-off.
Both Longford and UCD and Kerry and Bray’s head-to-head results read as a win each and two draws against each other as they went to war.
But something had to give over the next couple of games as all four looked for that much coveted chance to return to the top table in Irish football.
At a windswept Bishopsgate, and looking to go up for the first time since 2020, Longford made their first appearance at this stage since 2022 and spurned a glorious chance to take the lead early on when the off-balance Aaron Doran failed to hit the target with the goal at his mercy.
The conditions continued to play havoc with but the exciting Charles Akinrintayo looked dangerous down the left.
Having earned a confidence boosting 5-2 win away at Wexford in preparation, the Students took the lead just before the half hour mark in spectacular fashion. One of the league’s top stars Dignam showed why there is such a furore around him as he flicked up the ball with his heel, that was slightly behind him, and volleyed in one of the goals of the season.
Undeterred, the hosts kept pressing and would have been level just before the hour mark only for Dara Kavanagh to deny James Bailey with cat-like reflexes. But as they threw bodies forward The ‘Town were undone when Mikey McCullagh’s inswinging cross was glanced home by Hugh Smith to give his side a vital two goal lead.
Meanwhile, play-off first timers Kerry FC welcomed regulars at this stage, Bray Wanderers, who were looking to go one step further than the previous two years where they fell at the final hurdle in their bid to go up being defeated by Premier Division sides Drogheda United in 2024 and Waterford last season.
And it was the spirited hosts, with a hefty wind at their backs, who started sharp and some inside Mounthawk Park thought their heroes had taken the lead when Cian Bargary whipped a free kick from just outside the box inches Rian Hogan’s left-hand post. Niall Brookwell then had his head in his hands in disbelief as he found himself free at the back post but somehow volleyed over from a couple of yards following a long throw that got caught up in the swirling wind.
Having weathered a storm on and off the pitch The Seagulls had the ball in the back of the net when Tyreik Sammy latched onto Alain Kizenga’s through ball, but had strayed just offside.
Less than 10-minutes after the restart, Bray broke the deadlock following some excellent link up play between their talented attacking midfield duo McCormack and Ferizaj.
The former dinked a delightful ball onto the head of the 17-year-old who contorted his body to flick home a header facing away from goal – reminiscent of a Chicharito header against Stoke City in 2010.
Provider turned goalscorer just over 10-minutes later when McCormack smashed home from distance but just three minutes after the visitors had celebrated, it was game on again through a well taken McGrath goal who popped up at the back post following great work on the opposite flank by Bargary.
But their desperation to equalise got the better of the side from the Kingdom when Sean O’Connell received a straight red card in injury time for a reckless challenge trying to stop a Bray counter-attack.
*****
League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division
Final round
Meanwhile, Women’s Premier Division three-in-a-row champions Athlone Town rounded out their season with a 4-2 win over Cork City.
Golden Boot leader Dana Scheriff scored her 17th goal to help the Midlanders to victory. Scheriff’s goal was Athlone’s third in the 26th minute, with Madie Gibson and Hannah Waesch having netted before her.
City hit back through Zoe Finnerty and Ellie O’Brien either side of half-time, but Alexis Strickland wrapped up all three points for Athlone, who bid farewell to the retiring Noelle Murray with a mid-game standing ovation from both sides.
Elsewhere, Lauryn McCabe – younger sister of Ireland captain Katie – scored her first Women’s Premier Division goal for Bohemians, but Shamrock Rovers hit back to win the final game under the Dalymount Park lights after Sadhbh Doyle’s double.
Treaty United and Wexford won Saturday’s other games. Treaty held off a DLR Waves fightback, winning 3-2 after goals from Katie Lawlee and Caroline Penner (two), while Wexford eased to a 4-0 victory over Waterford.
In the games moved to Sunday due to Storm Boelo, Galway United and Shelbourne face off for second place – and European football – while Sligo Rovers host Peamount United.
*****
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