St Pat's waste 2-0 lead to draw with UCD

St Patrick's Athletic 2 UCD 2

St Pat’s week of woe continued as they blew a 2-0 lead, and had goalkeeper Gary Rogers and midfielder Shane McFaul both sent off, as they had to settle for a point at home to struggling UCD.

But it was a point Martin Russell’s College very much deserved as they were always in a match that produced plenty of goalmouth incident.

UCD turned the game around inside a minute midway through the second half.

Undeservedly trailing 2-0 at the break, a penalty on 71 minutes, which saw St. Pat’s Rogers dismissed for taking down Darren Meenan, announced UCD’s revival with Dean Marshall sending replacement keeper Chris Bennion the wrong way from the resultant penalty.

A minute later they were level when Meenan’s cross was headed home by Graham Rusk

St Pat’s had started well, taking a fifth minute when the prodigal Sean O’Connor shot home Jake Carroll’s cross.

The butt of a post prevented UCD from falling further on 15 minutes from David McMillan low shot from distance.

But UCD were well in the game and enjoyed a spell of pressure that brought chances for Rusk, twice, and Marshall while Rogers made a terrific tip over save from Paul O’Connor.

But totally against the run of play, McMillan doubled St Pat’s lead on 44 minutes with a brilliant 25 yards shot that arrowed into the top left corner of Barron’s net.

The had a farcical finisha as first UCD haf midfielder Meenan sent off for a second booking for dissent in the second minute of stoppage time.

McFaul then followed for a second yellow for apparently not waiting for the whistle at a free kick.