Heary leads the way for UCD

GOALS in each half from skipper Owen Heary and striker Anto Flood were enough to give an inexperienced Bohemians side a deserved victory over a young UCD at the Belfield Bowl last night.

Bohs enjoyed all the early pressure and almost took the lead when a Killian Brennan corner was only half-pushed away by keeper Ger Barron, only for Liam Burns’ effort to be blocked by a wall of defenders. From the rebound, Flood let fly only to see his effort brilliantly pushed away by Barron.

The students might have made better use of an opening created when Darren Meenan burst down the right to set up the chance for Robbie Benson, only for the striker to miscue with keeper Chris O’Connor comfortably gathering the ball.

Bohs were also guilty of missing opportunities when a neat flowing move between Aiden Price, Flood and Keith Buckley set up the opening for Stephen Traynor but he shot wide.

Pat Fenlon’s team eventually had their noses in front seconds into first-half added time when defender Heary headed home at the far post after an in-swinging corner by Brennan on the right.

College might have been level when Paul Corry set up a chance for Graham Rusk, who rifled a shot just over the bar from the edge of the box.

Bohemians enjoyed most of the pressure in the second half and deservedly added a second goal on 80 minutes when a long ball from Ger O’Brien caught Yael Haro off balance and Flood raced from his own half to fire the ball calmly past the advancing Barron.

College did have one late chance when substitute Samir Belhout shot into the side-netting with the goal at his mercy.

UCD: Barron; P O’Connor, Leahy, Haro, Nangle; Meenan (Marshall 45), Creevy, Corry, Langtry (Boyle 45); Benson (Belhout 72), Rusk.

BOHEMIANS: C O’Connor; Heary, Burns, Price, O’Brien; Buckley (Forrestor 77) , Rossiter, Brennan, Burke (Bayly 63); Traynor (Joyce 82), Brennan.

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).