News

Daly scores brace as UL draw with UCC News: results

Posted By	Men's Soccer
Posted On	22nd Oct 2024
Author	Mark Nolan (Fixtures Secretary)
Location	The Mardyke, UCC

CUFL Premier Division

University College Cork 2-2 University of Limerick

UL suffered a late sucker punch as UCC scored a 94th minute equaliser to see the spoils shared in their CUFL Premier Division clash at the Mardyke this afternoon.

The Shannonsiders had raced into a two goal lead courtesy of a fine brace from Leon Daly but a determined second half performance from the home side saw them mount a comeback in the last quarter to secure top spot in the group.

UL started the game brightly with just four minutes on the clock Dean Hegarty made inroads up the left wing beating his marker before crossing to Paul Brennan who saw his effort go just wide.

Just two minutes later the Limerickmen were celebrating, a UCC attack was snuffed out well by Joey Rushe who sent the ball forward towards Oisin Breen who flicked it on to Hegarty, the ball fell to Brennan who sent it beyond the UCC defence with his first touch.

Despite being a yard behind the UCC centre back Daly comfortably beat him in the footrace for possession, with the Cork goalkeeper advancing the mercurial winger hit it first time making no mistake to find the bottom corner of the net.

UL continued to dominate proceedings from the restart Brennan and Daly linked up again in the tenth minute seeing an effort go across the face of goal while Hegarty was convinced he had given UL a two goal cushion with a deft chip of the goalkeeper only to see his effort ruled out for the most marginal of offsides.

UCC’s forays into the Limerick half were proving fruitless with Conor Carew snuffing out any danger coming down Cork’s left side while the long balls launched down the middle were dealt with effortlessly by the centre back duo of Tom Kelly and Alex Cuddy.

In fact that duo both saw chances go narrowly wide midway through the half as their aerial prowess caused all manner of problems for the home team.

UL would create one more chance to take a two goal lead into the break and once again it was Brennan and Daly combining, the midfielder produced a body feint before laying the ball off to Daly who unleashed a strike from the edge of the area.

The UCC goalkeeper dove to his right as the ball went to his left but much to his relief it clattered off the base of the upright in the last real action of the opening half.

The visitors wouldn’t have to wait long for their second as just two minutes into the second moiety they were celebrating. Conor Carew launched a throw-in forward, with two men closing in on him Brennan dinked the ball through a gap in their bodies finding Daly.

The man from Sixmilebridge found himself in plenty of space his first touch took the ball inside his marker who was left flatfooted. With space to shoot he arrowed a low driven effort into the bottom corner to give UL some breathing space.

UL debutant Isaac O’Sullivan capitalised on a poor UCC clearance and produced a lovely jink to evade his marker just two minutes later. He fired a determined shot towards goal but his effort was thwarted by the UCC keeper.

UCC were always likely to enjoy a purple patch and came close to pulling one back from a corner in the fifty first minute as a scramble in the box saw an effort cleared off the Limerick goal line.

UL captain Tom Kidd was playing a major role in the game as he linked the Limerick defence in attack as the Shannonsiders looked to hit UCC on the counter as the home side continued to look to get a foothold in the game.

Substitute Donnacha O’Leary was covering a huge amount of ground as the game became an end to end affair but clear cut chances were at a premium for both sides.

UL would however see another fine chance go agonisingly wide with fifty seven minutes played, Carew found himself in an acre of space just inside the Cork half and spotted the perfectly timed run of Hegarty who had evaded his marker. The Clareman rose well and made a clean connection with the ball, the goalkeeper produced an acrobatic leap but the ball narrowly cleared the crossbar.

That warning shot seemed to spur UCC into action as they doubled down on their efforts to find a way back into the game, creating some half chances that ultimately did little to trouble Josh Coady in the Limerick goal.

Limerick had played the game with fierce intensity as they collectively covered every blade of grass in the Mardyke however a tired tackle on the right wing saw the concession of a free kick that offered UCC a lifeline back into the game.

The home team sent the ball towards the back post where it was nodded down into the area allowing a Cork boot to poke it home to tee up a tense final quarter of the game.

UL would create some chances in the final minutes but couldn’t find a way to restore their two goal cushion, and deep into injury time they would be dealt a cruel blow.

In the dying embers of the game UCC had to resort to route one football, their goalkeeper thundered the ball forward into the UL box. The Limerick defence had dealt with several similar balls through out the game but on this occasion a mix up would have a fatal consequence.

The ball dropped between goalkeeper and centre back and took a kind bounce into the path of a UCC forward who had continued his run. Coady spread himself well but from close range the striker couldn’t miss to spark wild celebrations for the home team.

There was time for one last attack, Tom Kelly rose well to flick the ball on towards the path of substitute Alex Siderov who was in one on one with the keeper but yet again a narrow offside call went the way of the home side to see the points shared.

While undoubtedly disappointed with the outcome of today’s encounter UL now turn their attention to their final group game of the league campaign which sees them welcome SETU Carlow to Maguire Pitches in two weeks time.