On a sunny Bank Holiday Monday evening Cork City and UCD played out an entertaining scoreless draw with Students goalkeeper Kian Moore putting in a fine display for the visitors.
Cork City were the better team over the course of the entire game and will be very disappointed not to have made it count with a goal but despite a recent blot in form they maintain their place at the top of the table by nine points to this evening's visitors in second.
Goals between the sides have been at a premium this year with just one Cork City goal across three league fixtures the best that both sides have come up with this season.
UCD will have Moore to thank for a share of the spoils as his fine performance between the posts denied Cork City their first win in three games.
After a stop-start opening five minutes Conor Drinan carved open the first real chance of note for either side. The Cork City midfielder picked up the ball deep in the UCD half before dancing in between Finn and Verdon and powering an effort towards goal but it was rising from the minute he made contact and cleared the crossbar.
The lively Cian Bargary was at it from the off on the right wing and was a constant thorn in the side of the UCD defence all evening. Having lost for the first time this season on Friday night, Cork City kicked off like a team wanting to kick on and put the defeat behind them as quickly as possible but lacked any real end product of note.
They were unlucky not to take the lead on ten minutes as a typical training ground move almost paid off from a set piece. Jack Doherty pinged a corner straight out to the unmarked Sean Murray on the edge of the box who showed great technique in his wind up before stinging the palms of Moore in the UCD goal. Bargary was quickest to the rebound almost catching Moore out with a header but the busy shot stopper once again kept his goal intact.
Tim Clancy’s side were the better team in the first half gradually cranking up the pressure on UCD as they probed forward for an opener with Kian Moore kept on his toes throughout.
Sean Murray almost pulled off the spectacular five minutes before the break with an audacious first time effort from just inside his own half hoofing the ball towards goal after spotting Moore outside his box. Murray’s accuracy was spot on but Moore to his credit recovered well with the ball flying towards his goal to deny Murray with a spectacular save back on his line.
Greg Bolger entered the game on the hour mark to replace injured Sean Murray with the home side still searching for the first goal of the game despite enjoying the lions share of possession.
The Cork City title winner made an immediate impact on his entry demanding the ball in midfield and driving his side forward. He had a great chance of a goal minutes after coming in as he got himself in a great position only to see his stinging volley saved once more by Moore.
As the game entered the final quarter UCD went close to taking the lead from the corner flag when Ciaran Behan’s attempted cross was too close to the goal and skimmed the crossbar and out for a goal kick. It would have been completely against the run of play in terms of chances created and possession and would have been harsh on the league leaders.
Chances in attack were few and far between for UCD with substitute Kinsella-Bishop scuffing a half chance wide in the dying minutes but nothing to cause Wade any real concern at all who had a very laid back night in goal.
Tim Clancy’s side did create some decent chances throughout the game with Bargary and Bolger involved in plenty but anything they threw at Kian Moore he stood up to and dealt with competently.
With chances few and far between in the second half substitute Cork substitute Djksteel had a chance to win it for Cork City into injury time. Djksteel took the ball down brilliantly with his first touch inside the box but swung wildly at it in an attempt at the spectacular with the ball trickling towards Moore in the UCD goal.
In keeping his sixth clean sheet of the season Kian Moore single-handedly earned a battling point for the Students.
It was a game that Cork City will feel they should have won with the chances they created over the course of the ninety minutes and they will hope that if they continue to work as hard as they have been that the reward for their efforts in front of goal will start to come. They welcome Longford Town to the Cross on Friday night as they go in search of their first win in four. UCD host Kerry F.C on Friday evening.
Cork City: Brad Wade; Harry Nevin, Cian Coleman, Charie Lyons, Conor Drinan; Sean Murray (Greg Bolger 57), Cian Bargary, Darragh Crowley, Jack Doherty (Barry Coffey 88); Cian Murphy (Harvey Skieters 82), Josh Fitzpatrick (Malik Dijksteel 82)
UCD: Kian Moore; Adam Wells, Niall Holohan, Eanna Clancy, Alex Dunne; Adam Verdon, Ronan Finn (Sean Brennan 62 (Stephen Mohan 77)), Mikey McCullagh (Donal Higgins 35); Ciaran Behan, Jake Doyle, Michael Raggett (Danu Kinsella - Bishop 62)
Elsewhere, in the First Division, the battle of the teams in third and fourth saw Athlone Town earn a 1-1 draw from their away clash with Finn Harps.
Patrick Ferry levelled with a minute of the 90 left for the hosts, this after Gideon Tetteh had put the midlanders in front.
Wexford FC and Longford Town finished 2-2 at Ferrycarrig Park, with all four goals coming in the final ten minutes. A brace from Jordan Adeyemo looked to have secured the points for Longford, only for Aaron Robinson on 88 and Cian Curtistwo minuteds later to rescue a point for the hosts.
Bray Wanderers defeated Cobh Ramblers 3-1 at the Carlisle Grounds. Harry Groome put Bray in front on the half hour, with Shane Griffin (62) and Max Murphy (68) giving them further daylight before David Eguaibor got a consolation for the visitors with ten minutes left.
Kerry FC picked up their third win of the season after a 2-1 home win against Treaty United. Kennedy Amechi netted Kerry's opener on nine minutes. An Evan O'Connor own goal doubled their advantage on 53. Enda Curran, who subsequently was red carded, pulled one back for Treaty after 73 minutes.
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