COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FOOTBALL

Premier Division North

TU DUBLIN ----4 UCD …….1

Premier Division holders TU Dublin made sure of a place in the Colleges and Universities Football League knock out stages with a 4-1 victory over UCD at Blanchardstown.

The game was a top class competitive affair with plenty of tasty tackles flying in particularly in a tight enough opening half that ended with the sides going in at the break level at 1-1.

But the damage to any chance UCD had of claiming a top two finish was done in a ten-minute spell around the hour mark when TU Dublin hit a golden patch to add three further goals for a 4-1 lead.

UCD came more into the game as an attacking force after that and striker Danu Kinsella Bishop finally got the better of towering centre back Cole Omorehiomwan to go close on a couple of occasions while Jack Keaney also had a well struck free saved.

By John Hudson

But it wasn’t the Belfield side's day and they failed to reach the semi final stage for the second successive season as Jamie Moore’s side go on to defend their title in Phase Two of the league after Christmas.

A Harry Groome opener from the penalty spot had TU Dublin in front on 15 minutes after Gbemi Arubi was clipped by Danny Norris as he burst into the box.

The home side then piled on the pressure but failed to increase their lead and Dara Keane with a magnificent header at the far post from a well-placed Norris left wing cross had UCD back on terms just before the break.

The events around the hour mark then proved decisive to the outcome of the game.

First Omorehiomwan burst forward into the UCD box to get his head to an Eric Abudiore cross from the left and firmly place the ball past Gavin McConville.

It was Abudiore’s first touch after replacing Conor Levingston three minutes earlier.

Shortly after a wonderful 25 yard strike from Matty O’Brien that went straight into the top corner giving McConville no chance of getting to it made it 3-1.

Groome then completed the scoring spell grabbing his second of the day within minutes, slotting the ball into an unguarded net after Arubi rounded the advancing McConville and set up the chance.

The lively Kinsella Bishop who had got no joy in his earlier tussles with Omorehiomwan then finally created a few opportunities but his luck wasn’t in and he saw one cracking effort hit the crossbar and several others go the wrong side of the post but fail to test goalkeeper Evan Niven.

Keaney with a free on the edge of the box did manage to force Niven into making a top class save at his near post but the holders stood firm and saw out the game to continue their bid to retain the title.

TU DUBLIN: Evan Niven; Mitch Byrne, Cole Omorehiomwan, Ray O’Sullivan, Dan Dobbin; Jan Brzozowski, Dan McKenna, Conor Levingston, Matty O’Brien; Gbemi Arubi, Harry Groome. Subs; Eric Abudiore (for Levingston 55), Cian Curtis (for Brzozowski 55), Shane Forbes (for Arubi 75), Zabo Abada (for O’Brien 79), Charlie Smith (for Groome 84).Not used: Jamin Nwanze, Paddy Moore.

UCD: Gavin McConville; Michael Gallagher, Harvey O’Brien, Jack Keaney, Danny Norris; Dara Keane, Matthew Scott, Donal Higgins, Ciaran Behan, Billy Griffin; Danu Kinsella Bishop. Subs: Tobi Jinad (for Scott 60) Not used: Ryan Bowden, Shane McCreery, Tommy Tonge, Gearoid Mulligan, Matthew Treanor, Nagata Daigoro.