UCD 3 Dundalk 1:UCD moved into the top half of the Airtricity Premier Division table with a convincing win over Dundalk at Belfield on Saturday night.
But with the chasing pack behind them also dropping points, Dundalk stay top of the table despite the loss. David McMillan, Ciarán Kilduff and Paul Corry got on the scoresheet as UCD gained revenge for a 3-0 loss suffered at Oriel Park in April.
Fahrudin Kuduzovic replied for Dundalk on a miserable night for the visitors who could have lost by more but for several excellent saves by goalkeeper Peter Cherrie.
An explosive spell of play by UCD saw them quickly snatch two goals to take control.
After 14 minutes McMillan rose highest in the packed Dundalk goalmouth to head Chris Mulhall’s corner past Cherrie and into the top right corner of the net.
College stunned Dundalk by doubling their advantage just two minutes later. Kilduff met Brian Shortall’s short pass and slotted past Cherrie from 15 yards.
Kilduff was denied by a fine Cherrie save on 33 minutes but Dundalk cut the deficit on 38 minutes when Kuduzovic fired a low drive past keeper Billy Brennan.
However, UCD increased the lead again in first-half injury-time when Mulhall teed up Corry for a close range tap-in following an excellent move. Dundalk found UCD’s solid formation with five men across midfield very hard to penetrate and they were mainly confined to long-range efforts.
UCD: Brennan; Harding, Nangle, Shortall, E McMillan; Bolger, Ward, Corry, D McMillan (McCreevy 65) Mulhall; Kilduff (Rusk 88).
DUNDALK: Cherrie; Murphy (McGuigan 56), Kelly, G Breen, Hatswell; Miller, Maher, Kuduzovic, McGowan (Cawley 62), Melligan; Fenn.
Referee: N Doyle.
Attendance: 464
