Drogheda United 1 Bray Wanderers 0

Keegan 76

Paul Keegan popped up with the winner for Drogheda fourteen minutes from time as United moved clear at the top of the ericom League Premier division.

Following a poor opening 45 minutes, the home side upped the ante considerably in the second half and were well worth their win over a Bray side who battled gallantly only to be undone in the latter stages of an entertaining second period.

Bray enjoyed by far the better of a disappointing first half as Drogheda failed to spark but the home side did begin brightly when James Keddy's shot was saved by Chris O'Connor in the Bray goal.

Keddy then turned provider for Declan O'Brien who had to lean back to get his header on target as O'Connor easily dealt with the ball.

With 25 minutes gone Bray's Robbie Doyle back heeled the ball into the path of David Tyrrell who broke down the left and crossed for Colm Tresson who just failed to get the touch which would have sent the ball to the net.

Four minutes later Tyrrell again tormented the home side down the same flank crossing for Tresson who cushioned his header into the path of Eamon Zayed who was denied a strike on goal by Graham Gartland's superb challenge.

Approaching half time Steven Bradleys shot was turned out for a corner by O'Connor and from the resulting kick Bradley's stinging drive was headed from beneath his own crossbar by defender Brian McGovern.

Drogheda switched Shane Barrett from the centre out to the right from the start of the second half and this move almost paid dividends immediately when he raced away from his marker and crossed for Gavin Whelan whose shot from six yards was brilliantly saved by O'Connor.

The Bray keeper then made a couple of crucial stops denying Gartland and Keddy in quick succession to keep the game scoreless.

Gavin Whelan then missed a sitter for Drogheda when he mis-kicked with the goal at his mercy from eight yards.

Drogheda's relentless pressure finally achieved the breakthrough their play deserved on 76 minutes when Glen Fitzpatrick chased a ball to the end line on the left, crossed for Whelan who headed the ball into the path of Paul Keegan who drove to the net from 12 yards.

In the closing stages David Tyrrell tested Connor in the Drogheda goal with a couple of free kicks from distance and Bray almost stole a point at the end when Brian McGovern's header flew narrowly wide.

Drogheda United: Connor, Gray (Webb 64), Gavin, Gartland, Robinson (Whelan 38), O'Brien, Keddy, Shelley, Bradley, Keegan, Barrett (Fitzpatrick 60)

Bray Wanderers: O'Connor, Tresson, Gifford (Charles 82), Roache, McGovern, Fox, Ryan (Georgescu 88), Keogh, Zayed, Doyle (Caffrey 82), Tyrrell.

UCD 0 CORK CITY 0

Cork City extended their unbeaten record to ten competitive games this season but lost their position at the top of the Premier Division table of the eircom League when held to a scoreless draw by UCD in an uninspiring clash with UCD at Belfield Park.

Cork had the majority of the scoring chances, but on a night when defences were totally on top, a draw was no less than the Students deserved.

College 'keeper Darren Quigley showed just why he is a target for a number of top English clubs when pulling off several quality saves to earn College a vital point in their bid to climb up the table.

Damien Richardson's men went closest to breaking the deadlock on 18 minutes when midfielder Joe Gamble fed the ball to Roy O'Donovan on the right. Skipping past central defender Conor Kenna, the Irish Under 21 international winger produced a perfect ball for Billy Woods on the left only for College defender Alan Mahon to make a vital interception.

The Students did have a chance when winger Pat McWalter played the ball back for defender Darragh Ryan. His cross enabled striker Paul Byrne to get in a glancing header just wide of the target.

The excellence of 'keeper Quigley again denied Cork just before the interval when O'Donovan sent Denis Behan clear on the right. But his fiercely struck low cross was well taken by the alert Quigley.

Cork then wasted a golden opportunity when winger Billy Woods blazed a right-footed effort over the bar from the edge of the box on 49 minutes after poor defending by the home side.

The excellent Quigley then did well to collect a volley from Behan at the second attempt after Fenn had for once carved open the resolute College defence. Woods did have the ball in the net late on for Cork, but the assistant referee had earlier raised his flag for offside.

In the dying minutes Cork central defender Dan Murray almost clinched the three points for Cork with a powerful downward header after a cross from Neal Horgan on the right. But again Quigley was the hero for the Students with an excellent diving save to frustrate the Leesiders.

UCD - Quigley, Mahon (Lee-Matthews 87), Kenna , McNally, Ryan; C.Byrne, Hurley (Dicker 46), Cawley, McWalter; P.Byrne (Doyle 72), Sammon.

Cork City - Devine; Horgan, Lordan, Murray, Murphy; O'Donovan, O'Brien, Gamble, Woods ; Fenn, Behan (O'Flynn 75) .

 

Bohemians 4, Waterford United 2

Waterford Unite paid the penalty for Bohemians run of bad luck in the Premier Division of the eircom League at Dalymount Park.

Bohs' form this season has been better than that suggested by their return of zero points from three matches played and it was inevitable they would strike it rich before too long.

Waterford United were unlucky to be the ones to suffer as Bohs finally found a way to translate their good football into goals on the scoreboard in a match that helped underline the quality in Gareth Farrelly's team.

They had to suffer, however, before they celebrated for Waterford jumped in front within two minutes of the start of the match.

Their Polish player, Andrew Polewczak shot Waterford in front following a cross from Ian Fraher and Bohs must have thought ‘here we go again'.

Player/manager Farrelly was on the pitch to lift them on this occasion and he helped them equaliser through Tony Grant after 14 minutes.

Waterford, working hard for manager Michael Kerley, were in front again after 39 minutes when Gavin Doyle snatched a goal in a goalmouth scramble but from there Bohs took control.

Farrelly brought Bohs level a second time with a goal from the penalty spot and they went on to stress their superiority with further goals from Kevin Hunt and a second from Tony Grant.