HOLDERS UCD needed extra time and penalties to retain the Leinster Senior Cup as they eventually beat a weakened Athlone Town at Whitehall last night in the 103rd final of the oldest domestic soccer competition.
In a dread fully dull game, that scarcely graced the occasion, the first half only came to life a minute before the interval when Athlone's goalkeeper, Anthony Keenan, made two excellent saves.
He dived low to his right to hold a Mick O'Byrne shot from 20 yards and then, within 30 seconds, tipped a Jason Sherlock overhead kick onto a post and out or a corner.
O'Byrne missed a glorious chance to give UCD the lead seven minutes into the second half when he blazed over from just six yards out following good work down the right by Sherlock.
Athlone had another let off on 79 minutes when Keenan again came to their rescue when tipping a James Keddy shot onto the crossbar.
The penalty shoot out finished 4-4 with Jason Colwell of UCD and Aidan Carberry missing. Jonathan Treacy scored the first of "sudden death" kicks before Conor Frawley sent his shot over the bar to give UCD the cup.
