News

UL down UCC to secure Quarter-final Spot News: results

Posted On 4th Nov 2025
Posted By Men's Soccer
Author Mark Nolan (Fixtures Secretary)
Location The Mardyke, UCC

CUFL Premier Division

University College Cork 0-1 University of Limerick

The University of Limerick secured their place in the quarter-finals of the CUFL Premier Division with a hard fought 1-0 win away to UCC this evening. 

UL arrived on Leeside knowing they needed at least a draw to secure progression to the knockout stages while a win could lineup a home quarter-final. Indeed it was UL who started the brighter creating a chance inside the opening minute of play.

Goalkeeper Josh Coady played a superb ball forward to pick out debutant Roy Lawlor on the left wing. The fresher accelerated forward leaving his marker for dead before seeing a well struck effort go just wide. 

It took a save of top quality to deny UL captain Tom Kidd a sensational goal with just ten minutes played. Finding himself in space twenty yards from goal the Galway native unleashed a venomous strike that was dipping towards the top corner. A strong hand just about tipped the ball over the upright. 

Just two minutes later UL really should have taken the lead, Donnacha O'Leary pressed a lackadaisical back pass from a UCC defender, under pressure the goalkeeper couldn't clear the ball and O'Leary poked it towards the centre of the box where Leon Daly managed to get a shot off toward goal, a last ditch clearance stopped the ball before it could cross the goal line.

The Shannonsiders were in total control, Harry Sherlock and Jack Ahern along with the influential Kidd were dictating play from the centre of the park while O'Leary, Daly and Lawlor were a constant threat. With 18 minutes played Lawlor saw another curling effort go narrowly wide while just after the 20 minute mark Daly stung the hands of the UCC keeper with an effort.

UCC eventually found their way into the game and enjoyed a purple patch around the half hour mark, Coady made a timely stop to keep the sides level. This proved to be a wake up call for UL as O'Leary came close to breaking the deadlock. Battling well for possession the Aisling Annacotty man saw the ball sit up perfectly and catching it on the half volley he was only denied by the crossbar. 

His persistence would be rewarded in the 38th minute, a UL set piece routine caused chaos in the UCC box with the ball falling to O'Leary who composed himself to cooly slot the ball into the bottom corner. 

The home side looked to draw level before the break and launched an all out assault on the UL defence. Tommy Lilis and David Holden produced some fine tackles to snuff out UCC forays out wide while long balls pumped into the mixer were dealt with by the UL centre back pairing of Alex Cuddy and Fintan O'Kelly.

This was a fiercely contested contest under the lights of the Mardyke and both sides were happy to use their physicality. Once such moment on the stroke of half-time saw O'Kelly produce a perfectly timed sliding tackle to deny a UCC forward from progressing and ensured the visitors took a lead into the break.

As the sides emerged for the second half the conditions deteriorated as misty rain descended on the pitch. UCC started the second half with real impetuous adapting their formation as they looked to extend their league season. 

Ten minutes after the restart they had their first real chance with an effort flashing just wide of the upright. The game became attritional with no letup in the physicality, UL were still creating chances but in truth the home side enjoyed the lion's share of possession for much of the second half. 

UL called on the experience of David McCarthy from the bench and the Newmarket Celtic man produced an inch perfect pass to set Lawlor away up the left wing. Once again he beat his marker for pace before cutting back inside at the edge of the area, he fired the ball towards the far post missing by inches. 

Another Clare native Dean Hegarty was sprung from the bench as Limerick continued to rebuff advances into their half. UCC looked to have drawn level with fifteen minutes to go when they had the ball in the back of the UL net but it was ruled out for an offside in the build up.

The home side continued to push for a way back into the game but each time they were denied by some resolute UL defending. Coady made two vital stops in injury time to leave the hosts truly frustrated.

The last act of the game saw UL breakaway on a counter attack, Daly took off at speed dribbling towards the UCC box before he was hacked down. McCarthy stood over the resulting free kick and his effort left the UCC goalkeeper rooted to the spot as the ball cleared the wall and dipped towards the top corner. Much to the shot stopper's relief the crossbar denied the UL veteran what would have been a superb goal.

UL won't have long to rest on their laurels as they will face Maynooth in an away quarter-final next week. 


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