UCD AFC suffered another defeat on the road.
Airtricity League Premier Division
Friday 18th May 2012
Turner's Cross
Cork City 4-2 UCD AFC
Horgan 13' Rusk (Pen) 15'
O'Neill 37', (Pen) 81', 90' O'Conor 79'
UCD AFC suffered their second defeat in a row when going down to Cork City in Turner's Cross. UCD twice came from behind to put themselves in a good position to win a point but twice saw it slip from their grasp. Graham Rusk was first on the scoresheet for the Students and Paul O'Conor notched a second half equaliser but it wasn't enough as UCD returned to Belfield pointless.
The game began in a frenetic fashion with Cork City shading the opening exchanges. Former Student, Tadgh Purcell, played a pivotal role in giving The Rebels the lead. His perfectly weighted ball found Daryl Horgan and he gave McGinley no chance in the UCD goal with an inch perfect finish.
UCD did not have to wait long to get back into the game and it was a familiar name that ended up on the score sheet. Graham Rusk has scored 5 goals this season, all of them penalties and he added another one to that list. Chris Lyons was bundled over in the box and the referee showed no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Up stepped Rusk and he made no mistake from 12 yards for his sixth goal of the season.
UCD's dogged defending was frustrating the home side as they could not find a way through and the game looked to be heading for a half time stalemate. Tadgh Purcell again had other ideas and another clever ball found Davin O'Neill and his goalbound strike was diverted away from goal by Mick Leahy but the officials had already made up their mind and a goal was given.
The Students came out firing in the second half and two quick fire Paul O'Conor strikes tested McNulty in the Cork goal but still UCD could not bring themselves back level. At the other end McGinley had to be on top form to parry a Sullivan strike from distance out of danger.
With ten minutes left in the game UCD looked to have secured the point their second half performance may have deserved. The Students were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area and up stepped Paul Corry to smash the ball goalwards. McNulty pulled off an incredible save but the ball fell to Paul O'Conor and he finished easily from a couple of yards.
One could have been forgiven for thinking that would be that, but the Students had other ideas. Unfortunately those ideas involved pressing the self destruct button. With Cork on the attack and pressing for another go ahead goal, the ball bounced in the area and Hugh Douglas was adjudged to have handled it. A penalty was awarded and O'Neill had his second of the game. The game was over deep into inury time when a McGinley lapse in concentration gifted O'Neill his hat trick and produced more heartbreak for the Students.
Cork City: Mark McNulty, Danny Murphy, Gearóid Morrissey, Colin Healy, Shane Duggan, Davin O'Neill, Vinny Sullivan (Stephen Kenny 92), Tadgh Purcell, John Dunleavy, Kalen Spillane, Daryl Horgan (Ian Turner 69).
UCD: Mark McGinley, Hugh Douglas, Daniel Ledwith, David O'Connor, Michael Leahy, Paul Corry, Paul O'Connor, Robert Benson (Samir Belhout 83), Graham Rusk, Chris Lyons, Gary Burke (Ciaran Nangle 45).
