UCD TAKE PENALTY ROUTE TO HARDING CUP GLORY
UCD 0 UCC 0 aet
UCD won 5-4 on pens
For the second time in three days UCD came through the tension of a penalty shoot out on top to clinch the Irish Universities Harding Cup after a scoreless 110 minutes of high class football in the decider against UCC at Galway.
The 90 minutes and even a further 20 minutes failed to see either side break the deadlock so UCD were set to face another nerve racking test from the penalty spot after knocking out holders Maynooth University in Monday's quarter final.
By JOHN HUDSON
The sides converted three series of spot kicks and after Fitzpatrick kept out Hanrahan’s effort UCC might have clinched the win but Conor O’Herlihy’s kick was brilliantly saved by Nikolay Georgiev.
Dan McCarthy then beat Fitzpatrick to see UCD level at 4-4 and when Georgiev denied Jake Lynch, Ross Cashin stepped up and coolly struck home the winning spot kick.
The Belfield side had edged out holders Maynooth University 7-6 after nine series of spot kicks to advance to Tuesday’s semi-finals.
They went on to eke out a hard fought 2-1 victory over Trinity College on Tuesday to book a place in to-day’s final.
In the decider UCD came up against UCC, always a side renowned for its strong defensive qualities and fierce commitment.
This was evident from the kick off and although UCD always looked capable of getting off the mark in the first half they were thwarted time and again by the Cork back four marshalled by the outstanding Sean Condron and a top class display by goalkeeper Kevin Fitzpatrick.
Danny Norris, Liam Kelly and Darragh Reilly all failed to hit the target. Defender Alex Haugh up for a corner went close with a header too.
The second half had a similar look with UCD doing most of the attacking but the lack of quality deliveries into the Cork box never created many opportunities to get a strike on goal.
Kelly did have a great chance to open the scoring but Fitzpatrick was in top form and kept out the effort while Norris might have tested Fitzpatrick on a couple of occasions only to be well policed by Condron and his fellow defenders.
The stalemate was maintained into the extra time period although Tommy Hanrahan and Sean O’Regan went close for UCD.
It’s always tough to lose out in a major competition to penalties and these first year student footballers are to be complimented for serving up such an intriguing final after playing three tough games within a 72 hour period.
Overall Player of the Tournament: Ryan Bowden (UCD)
UCD: Nikolay Georgiev; Alex O’Shea, Alex Haugh, Ryan Bowden, Dan McCarthy; Darragh Reilly, Ross Cashin; Liam Kelly, Danny Norris, Sean O’Regan; Colin Hayes.
Subs: Tommy Hanrahan (for Kelly 101), Fergal O’Brien (for Hayes 116). Not used: Alex English, Matthew Kane, Alex O’Meara, Ross Kinnear, James Cardiff.
UCC: Kevin Fitzpatrick; Niall Lynch, Ross Cunningham, Sean Condon, Justin Dimitri; Garvan Twomey, Sean Keane; Andrew McElligott, Conor O’Herlihy, Conor Hughes; Jamie Dineen.
Subs: Paddy O’Sullivan (for Keane 29), Jake Mallen (for McElligott 73), Jake Lynch (for O’Sullivan 78). Not used: Andrew Rogers, Malachy Harte, Ben Lowen, Colin O’Flynn.
Referee: Marc Lynch. Assistants: Vincent Carew, Mike Cubbard. Fourth Official: Gabriel Darcy.
