UCD AFC came out on top in a thrilling game in Terryland Park last Friday night.

UCD AFC openened up a 13 point gap with bottom side Galway United and secured a seven point advantage in the process over Dorgheda United following an exciting game in Terryland Park. The Students triumphed 4-3 over a Galway United side full of fight and passion, who found the Belfield side's greater quality too much to deal with.

UCD tore into the game from the outset and would no be denied an early goal as livewire Darren Meenan, made a nuisance of himself in the Galway United box and the defence stopped short of employing ball and chain to keep him quite at set pieces. One such set piece caused led to a UCD penalty as again Meenan was unfairly stopped in his tracks and Neil Doyle awarded a penalty. Marshall stepped up and fired home the spot kick.

One could be forgiven that this looked liked the beginning of the end as UCD dominated possesion and looked to be ina  good position to pick their opposition off. Galway United had other ideas and sprung to life to drag themselves back into the game. A stunning Ger Barron save from a Ronan Cauldwell strike saw the ball eventually fall to Alan Murphy and he made no mistake from 3 yards.

It was a harsh lesson for the Students as their general play warranted further goals rather than parity. Graham Rusk in particular was in fine form as he tormented the Galway defence from the off, turning and running at them at every opportunity. Rusk's forays forward set panic in the Galway defence and at times their defending left a lot to be desired as more than once a lack of communication seemed to be their downfall.

Greg Fleming in the Galway goal did not cover himself in glory as UCD took the lead. Unlike his opposite number in the UCD goal, Fleming showed little confidence coming off his line and it cost him and Galway dear after half an hour. A Marshall corner flapped at by Fleming and the ball was eventually bundled over the line by Graham Rusk.

UCD further extended their lead with the best goal of the game. A pin point accurate Dean Marshall cross fell to the feet of Robbie Benson on the edge of the Galway box. His fleet footedness brought him away from his marker and one on one with the keeper. With the angle tightening to rule out a shot, Benson cleverly played the ball into the path of the onrushing Rusk who side footed the ball home with confidence.

A two goal lead at half time would have been richly deserved and would surely have provided the spring board from which to finish off the game. It wasn't to be as a spirited Galway side came back into the game. A strong Bobby Ryan header from a Karl Moore cross had just enough power to beat Barron in the UCD goal and the lead was just one going into the second half.

Again, UCD began the half on the front foot. Daniel Ledwith, on for Robbie Benson, and Paul O'Conor wasted no hesitation in picking a cross field pass to open their opposition time and again. Graham Rusk was playing like a man possessed and dropped deep regularly to win back possession. One such defensive venture saw him spring to attacking life in the very same move. Winning the ball back he sprung forward and did not stop until he unleashed his effort on goal that Fleming did well to hold.

Cillian Morrison was next into the fray and the young striker showed all the confidence of a veteran when putting The Students into a 4-2 lead. All on his own he moved forward with the ball. As Fleming came to close him down he arched a ball over the keeper which nestled nicelhy into the back of the net and looked to have given UCD a comfortable last 15 minutes.

Not surprisingly this was not the case as again the game began to open up and Galway poured forward. Ger Barron was again at his stunning best as Bobby Ryan attempted an audacious effort from 30 yards. With the Uinted faithful already celebrating Barron arched his body and flicked the ball over the bar, almost taunting the home fans as if he purposefully left it that late.

When Neil Doyle pointed to the spot for UCD's penalty in the first half the reaction from the crowd was vociferous in their protestations. When he did it again in the same box in the second half the reaction was just as loud but this time in admiration as Doyle punished a mixture of holding and handball in the UCD backline.

Murphy stepped up and though Barron got a hand to the ball he could not stop it hitting the back of the net. Time was ticking ever so slowly now and Galway looked likely to gain further reward. David O'Connor and Tomas Boyle rescued their defence with last ditch headers and tackles as UCD attempted to stay strong.

With the last kick of the game Galway launched a ball into the crowded Students' penalty area. Out of the sea of bodies rose Barron to punch the ball almost to the halfway line and UCD had another 3 points and withstood a stern test of character.

Galway United: Fleming, Preston Kelly, Maher, Walsh, Kelly, Ryan, Sinnott (Dusi 67), Curran, Moore, Murphy, Cauldwell (Gilmore 80 

UCD AFC: Barron, Nangle, Leahy, O'Connor, Russell (Boyle 72), Benson (Ledwith 45), Corry (Morrison 56), Marshall, O'Conor, Meenan, Rusk

Referee: Neil Doyle