Ryan free-taking gives Dublin edge over UCD
Dublin made the brighter start and quickly knocked over two early scores through Conal Keaney and Paul Ryan.
However, the students restored parity through a brace of fine points by Wexford senior Jack Guiney.
The second half remained equally tight, with Keaney adding two further points from play in an impressive outing on the edge of the square, while Guiney and Domhnal Fox ensured the evenness of the encounter was maintained.
With Colm Cronin making a lively senior debut from wing-forward, Dublin assumed a degree of control and the free-taking of Ryan handed them a slight advantage as the contest evolved.
His ability from frees proved central to Dublin’s interval lead when the Ballyboden St Enda’s clubman struck a trademark goal from a 20m free in the 32nd minute, despite the best efforts of Billy Leydon in the UCD goal.
Cillian Buckley and David Higgins netted for the students upon the restart but with William Egan dismissed on a second booking, Dublin confirmed their win through Ryan’s second goal in the 51st minute.
Scorers for Dublin: P Ryan 2-9 (1-7f, 0-1 65), C Keaney 0-4, R O’Dwyer, C Cronin 0-2, J Boland, D O’Callaghan, P Winters 0-1 each.
UCD scorers: J Guiney 0-7 (5f, 1 65), P Murphy 0-4, C Buckley, D Higgins 1-0, Conor O’Shea, G Sinnott, D Fox, Con O’Shea 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: A Nolan; C O’Callaghan, P Kelly, J Doughan; S Hiney, C McCormack, C Crummey; J Boland, J McCaffrey; C Cronin, R O’Dwyer, B Connolly; P Ryan, C Keaney, D O’Callaghan.
Subs: M Schutte for D O’Callaghan and G Whelan for Crummey (half-time), P Winters for Connolly (51), R Mahon for Keaney (66), M Quilty for McCaffrey (68).
UCD: B Leydon; J McDowell, B O’Carroll, J Gannon; B Coughlan, M O’Hanlon, W Egan; Conor O’Shea, C Buckley; G Sinnott, D Fox, P Murphy; W Walsh, J Guiney, C Keane.
Subs: Con O’Shea for Fox (half-time), W Phelan for O’Carroll (44), D Higgins for Keane (56), J Power for Conor O’Shea (60), M Brennan for Sinnott (65).
Referee: T Carroll (Offaly).
