A textbook goal from Ian Gilzean was sufficient to give St Patrick's Athletic every chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the League Cup after they beat UCD in their Group F tie at Belfield last night.
St Patrick's largely controlled the game, going in at the break good value for their match-winning lead. That came on 26 minutes when Gilzean was given time and space to plant a near-post header from Martin Russell's accurate free-kick into the net.
Aidan Lynch, the UCD captain, might have levelled the scores in first-half injury time but volleyed over the top having been played through by Mick O'Bryne's excellent ball.
The second half featured a fine save from Barry Ryan as he kept out a Trevor Molloy volley.
UCD: Ryan; Mahon, Delaney, McDonnell; McLoughlin, Kavanagh, Lynch, Dunne, McAuley; Kilmurray, O'Byrne. Subs: Martyn and Martin for Dunne and McLoughlin (both 81 mins.), Noonan for Kavanagh (88 mins).
St Patrick's Athletic: Wood; Croly, Lynch, Moody, Doyle; Gormley, Russell, Osam; Reilly, Gilzean, Molloy. Subs: McGuinness for Moody (54 mins.), Devereux for Reilly (66 mins.), Morgan for Gormley (73 mins.).
Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).
