AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Dundalk 1 UCD 2:UCD took a massive step towards Premier Division safety as a David McMillan brace helped them to a vital win over bottom of the table Dundalk in front of 1,000 supporters at Oriel Park last night.
The Louth venue was stunned into silence when McMillan dispatched an 81st minute penalty to move the Students seven points clear of Dundalk, all but consigning the Lilywhites to a relegation play-off spot.
McMillan had earlier given UCD a first-half lead only for a Marc Griffin deflection to draw the home side level. Darius Kierans’s side looked good for the three points after that but they were left deflated when McMillan struck late on.
Both sides had clear cut chances in a lively first half. Dundalk’s Michael Rafter ballooned an effort over the top when it looked easier to score and the same player wasted the home side’s best opportunity of the half in the 23rd minute when foiled by ’keeper Mark McGinley.
When level Dundalk increased the tempo and Griffin and Lorcan Shannon both fired wide with efforts but it was UCD who had the final say when McMillan did his bit from 12-yards.
DUNDALK: Cherrie; Whelan, Foran, Shields, Osborne; Mountney, Maher, OBrien (Reilly 66), Shannon; Griffin, Rafter (Conlon 75).
UCD: McGinley, Douglas, Kavanagh, Leahy, Nangle; OConor, McCabe, Ledwith; Clarke (Burke 68), Benson, McMillan (Lyons 89).
Referee: Damien Hancock(Dublin).
