UCD came from behind to defeat Limerick 2-1 in the Bowl to take full advantage of leaders Shels’ slip-up in Tolka Park. Despite it being only UCD’s second win in the last seven home league games, it was well-timed, and it now  close the gap at the top to just goal difference.

With injuries and suspensions hitting, there was an unusual midfield line-up, with Dave McMillan – goalscoring hero in Waterford last week – on the wing and Pete McMahon in centre-mid, while Graham Rusk earned a first league start up front and new scholarship signing Seán Houstan made the bench for the first time. The opening chance of the game was UCD’s – a nice flowing move which culminated in McMahon finding Ward on the edge of the box, but the winger curled well over. 

A minute later, Limerick took the lead. Daryl Kavanagh received a throw-in, played a one-two on the edge of the box and curled home a superb finish in off the post from the edge of the D. 

UCD rallied, and again Ward – and his profligacy in front of goal – were instrumental. Picking up a pass on the left touchline at half-way, Ward sent a superb ball down the line for Nangle; he followed on to receive the ball back, played low into the box to Rusk, whose neat backheel set Ward up perfectly, but the winger dragged his effort tamely wide. 

Two minutes later, a John Tierney went on a dinking run into the box, only denied by a last-ditch intervention from Andy Boyle; from the loose ball, Shane Treacy and Gareth Matthews clashed heads, which saw the UCD full-back replaced by Brian Shortall. 

The game entered a lull for a while after that – although both keepers had to be out of the box to clear dangerous through balls, while Ciarán Kilduff twice sent headers narrowly wide after good balls in from McMahon and Rusk. 

However, it was indicative of the game thus far that the first save and the first corner didn’t arrive until the 34th minute. A free from the left was headed down by Kilduff and Brian Shortall sent a reaction volley towards goal, which Dave Ryan in nets did well to tip over the bar. 

Throughout the second half, UCD had been gaining the ascendancy, and they went close again in injury time when Dave McMillan’s shot was deflected behind for a third corner for the home team. Nothing came of the corner, which ended the half, but it was a nice boost for the Students to go into the break on. 

It showed too, as UCD were level on 50 minutes. A Limerick move was broken down by Ronan Finn, who played upfield to Kilduff, who switched out to Mulhall. Going between two players, Mulhall went down; Finn took the free kick quickly, and when the slightly disorganised Limerick defence only cleared to Dave McMillan on the edge of the box, the forward rammed home into the bottom corner for his second goal in two games. 

Limerick nearly had the lead again two minutes later. A free kick into the box was dropped under pressure by Billy Brennan, Thomas Lyons pounced, but his shot was cleared off the line by Shortall. 

The game turned in a three minute spell around the hour mark. Goalscorer Kavanagh played a one-two on the edge of the UCD box to get into a good position, but saw his shot deflected wide for a corner, and three minutes later, UCD were ahead. Brian Shortall freed half-time sub Mulhall down the wing, and from the right touchline, he tried his luck, sending in a superb shot which looped over Ryan into the far top corner of the net; a definite Goal of the Season candidate.

It was nearly 3-1 a minute later; straight from tip off, UCD won the ball back, constructed a nice passing move forward which ended in Kilduff taking McMahon’s pass, spinning off his man and from 25 yards trying a shot which grazed the top of the Limerick bar with keeper Dave Ryan beaten all ends up. 

Kilduff had UCD’s next – and last – real chance on 72, when played through one-on-one on the right hand side, but he dragged his shot inches wide of the far post. Limerick rarely threatened an equaliser, and the three points set the Students up very nicely for next week’s trip to Morton Stadium for the first of the three remaining crunch promotion ties. 

UCD – Brennan; Matthews (Shortall 15), Nangle, Boyle, E McMillan; McMahon, D McMillan, Finn, Ward (Mulhall 45); Kilduff, Rusk. Subs not used – Barron, Reilly, Houstan. Booked – Shortall, D McMillan