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Saints slip up in closing moments

Friday 11th May 2007, 9:48 pm

Mark Quigley in action against UCD at Belfield Park.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Saint Patrick's Athletic threw away two of the three points they seemed to be coasting to as UCD battled back to claim a 2-2 draw with two late goals at Belfield Park tonight.

Some quite baffling selections and switches contributed to a disjointed Saints performance. Stephen Quigley, the Saints smallest player, was brought in to play as the central man in a three man defence while Stephen Brennan pushed into midfield to cover for the missing Alan Kirby and Dave Mulcahy. Their cause wasn't helped by the withdrawal of Joseph Ndo before the half hour with a knock.

UCD stuck to their usual script with Tony McDonnell returning to the starting line up. College plans were also hampered though when he also went off injured, limping off after less than twenty minutes.

Paul Byrne celebrates after levelling for UCD.

Photo by Tom Carey.

O'Neill almost lifted a drab opening to the game but clipped the top of Matt Gregg's crossbar with an elaborate chip after Mark Quigley had played him in. Keith Fahey also went close 25 minutes in but saw his shot deflect narrowly over.

Mark Quigley was without doubt Pats best player on the night and he saw a flicked header blocked as he connected with Colm Foley's cross.

Anthony Murphy was next up for the Saints as he turned a shot wide on the volley. It wasn't one way traffic but UCD were losing the ball at vital times, limiting their chances at goal. It was probably less than surprising too that the visitors created more after McDonnell went off injured.

The two Pats scorers celebrate Gary O'Neill's (right) goal. Mark Quigley set it up.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Mark Quigley then conjured up his first piece of magic on the night. He took possession of the ball on the edge of the box and after a couple of steps, drilled a brilliant low shot past Gregg into the corner of the net to make it 1-0.

The UCD keeper had to tip over just before half-time as Murphy again went close.

Shane McFaul fired wide for the College shortly after half-time as Saints boss John McDonnell continued to tinker with his setup.

Paul Crowley fired narrowly wide as Pats continued to look vulnerable when tested.

With the Saints boss trying frantically to switch Mark Quigley to the right hand side, the opening scorer tore down the Saints left before squaring for O'Neill to force home from close range to make it 2-0.

Stephen Quigley robs Derek Doyle of possession.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Trailing by two goals with little over half an hour left, UCD didn't give up. Stephen Quigley cleared superbly off the line as UCD threatened to force the ball home after a scramble. Goalkeeper Barry Ryan also had to make a couple of good stops to keep Paul Crowley and Derek Doyle at bay.

The Saints rang the changes in the closing ten minutes. Whether the manager thought things needed freshening up or he just wanted to give players a run, it back-fired spectacularly.

Ryan Guy came in for O'Neill while Mark Rooney was set to replace Stephen Quigley even before the defender went down injured. It would be two other substitutes who would make a match changing impact.

Defending a free kick, the league leaders struggled to clear their lines allowing Timmy Purcell to fire home between Ryan and his post at the near post. With five minutes left on the clock, UCD had sensed a chance.

Anthony Murphy and Conor Kenna battle in the air.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Another chaotic scramble in the box saw a loose ball eventually fall to Paul Byrne before he poked the ball home to level on ninety minutes.

Both sides had chances in the four added minutes but given the circumstances, UCD will be far happier with the outcome. The result will come as good news to Drogheda who now trail St. Pats By two points but have a game in hand, the two sides meet in each club's next league games.

UCD : Gregg, Mahon, Bermingham, Kenna, McNally, McDonnell (Crowley 17), C Byrne, McFaul, Bolger (P Byrne 53), Doyle (Purcell 77), Sammon.
St. Patrick's Athletic : Ryan, Maguire, C Foley, S Quigley (Rooney 84), Brennan, Ndo (Frost 28), Fahey, M Quigley, O'Neill (Guy 77).