UCD AFC overcame Cherry Orchard by two goals to one in the UCD Bowl

UCD returned to winning ways at the UCD Bowl on Friday night with a third round FAI Cup win over Cherry Orchard. The Students were the better team for seventy minutes but could have let it slip in the last quarter of the match.

This was UCD’s first game in the competition this year while Orchard had beaten Cobh Ramblers in Round Two.

UCD were the better team in the first half and Cherry Orchard only threatened on the break. The College’s first chance came in the first minute as Paul O’Connor ran at the Orchard defence and forced the first of many good saves from Keith Gallagher.

Sean Russell looked dangerous all night and he won the first corner for UCD in the fourth minute. He weaved through the Orchard defence on the left wing only for his cross to be blocked. The corner was met by a UCD head but went over the bar, with claims of handball being waived away by referee Damien Hancock.

Two minutes later Russell went on another good run and his dangerous cross was met by Samir Belhout. The shot was well saved by Gallagher in the Orchard goal.

Belhout was involved again in the thirteenth minute. He received a pass, following a superb attacking run by Sean Harding, but his shot from inside the box was just wide to the right of the goal. Russell continued to threaten the Orchard defence and his cross in the seventeenth minute, following a one-two with Darren Meenan, was in the perfect place for Dean Marshall to score. The right winger headed just over however.

Cherry Orchard had their best chance of the half in the thirty sixth minute when Adam Crowther did well to hold off two UCD defenders and shoot from outside the box. His effort was just wide however.

Orchard had failed to score with arguably the best chance of the half and they would be made to pay almost immediately. Paul Corry gathered the ball in the centre of the park and shot following a short run. His powerful shot was not held by Gallagher in the Orchard goal and this allowed Russell to finish from three yards out. Orchard had one more chance before half time following a mistake by Ciaran Nangle in the UCD defence. Philip Sheppard’s shot was well saved by Ger Barron, low to his right.

UCD were deservedly ahead at half time.

The second half was an excellent advertisement for the FAI Cup as both teams created numerous chances. Nangle beat two men and played an inch perfect ball to Belhout. His shot was well saved by Gallagher in the Orchard goal after forty seven minutes.

UCD next attacked on the break in the fifty fourth minute, with a move involving Marshall and Belhout. The latter’s shot was once again saved well by Gallagher in the Orchard goal. A deft touch from O’Connor in the middle of the park opened up the space for Belhout who passed it back to O’Connor. His shot was deflected and Gallagher had to adjust save well with his legs at the front left post.

UCD had been by far the better team since the start of the second half and it finally told in the sixty seventh minute. Second half substitute Stephen Doyle started and finished the move, which also involved O’Connor and Belhout. He passed it to Russell whose shot hit the underside of the cross bar and broke back to Doyle who smashed the ball into the far corner. This was Doyle’s first senior goal and he looks a bright prospect based on his performance in this game.

Cherry Orchard could have folded against Premier Division opposition but it was a credit to the Leinster Senior League Sunday Senior One Champions that they did not.

Second half Orchard substitute Philip O’Connor had two chances for Orchard in and around the seventy five minute mark. The first came when the ball broke to him on the edge of the box but his shot was scuffed wide to the left of the UCD goal. His second, a minute later, was a slightly better chance and was created following a header on from Crowther. This attempt was more powerfully struck but it went just wide of the UCD goal, again to the left. Two minutes later a long ball found Sheppard in the UCD box. His attempted chip beat Barron in the College goal but not the crossbar.

UCD then conceded a scrappy goal. O’Connor was forced to concede a corner after he hesitated on the ball in his own box. The ensuing cross from the right was met by the unmarked Orchard captain Alan McNevin whose powerful header gave Barron no chance. Orchard were back in this game and probably just about deserved to be for the pressure they had put UCD under over the previous ten minutes.

UCD were lucky a minute later when Orchard missed chances that would have been easier to score.

Crowther’s shot from the edge of the box hit the cross bar and broke to Philip O’Connor. His header was well saved by Barron but the ball broke to back to Crowther who really should have scored from seven yards out. He had to settle for the corner.

UCD, having been the better team for the best part of seventy five minutes, were now defending for their lives.

UCD showed their greater experience as full-time approached with Russell in particular, doing well to collect the ball and hold it up. The Students ran the clock down and the final whistle was blown after just over three minutes of stoppage time.

UCD were the better side throughout and it would have been unjust for them not to have advanced to the next round. They advance to the last sixteen of the cup now. Their next match is in the league on Friday night when they welcome the champions Shamrock Rovers to The Bowl.

Cherry Orchard: Keith Gallagher, David O'Sullivan (Kevin Brennan 82), Matthew Roche (Darren Byrne 79), Marc Nataro, Ian Maher, Alan McNevin (captain), Ian McNeil, Graham Curran, Philip Sheppard, Adam Crowther, Lee Collins (Philip O'Connor 64).

Subs not used: Kevin Brennan, Michael McLoughlin, Colm Daily, Luke Kelly, Craig O' Brien.

Goal scorer: Alan McNevin 79.

UCD: Ger Barron, Sean Harding, Ciaran Nangle, James Scallon, Michael Leahy (captain), Paul Corry, Dean Marshall (Stephen Doyle, 63), Paul O'Conor, Samir Belhout (Cillian Morrison 71), Darren Meenan, Sean Russell.

Subs not used: Tomas Boyle, Daniel Ledwith, James Kavanagh, Robbie Benson, Mark McGinley.

Goal(s) scorer: Sean Russell 37, Stephen Doyle 68.

UCDSoccer.com Man of the Match: Sean Russell.

Referee: Damien Hancock.