UCD relegated despite scoreless draw with Rovers

FULL STRETCH: UCD goalkeeper Kian Moore during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match against Shamrock Rovers at UCD Bowl. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Airtricity League Premier Division

UCD 0 Shamrock Rovers 0

A strong defensive display from the Students in a scoreless stalemate against Shamrock Rovers wasn’t enough to save them from relegation as UCD couldn’t get the win required to give them a stay of execution for another week.

It looked like Rovers would suffer a real dent in the title ambitions. However, with Derry City losing in Sligo, the Hoops extended their lead at the top of the table to five points with just five matches remaining but St Patrick’s Athletic now come into the picture - six points back with a home game in hand against Drogheda United on Monday.

UCD confirmed on the eve of the game that Andy Myler would be leaving the managerial role at the end of the season and whether his team talk involved saying “nobody beats UCD 16 times in a row” that was the case as the Students avoided defeat against the Hoops in the league for the first time in a decade.

Unsurprisingly it was all one way traffic in the first half – so much so that the clock had ticked past the half an hour mark before Hoops goalkeeper Alan Mannus got a touch of the football.

For all Rovers’ dominance, Kian Moore in the UCD goal didn’t have that much to do but what he did was done well. His best contribution was blocking a goal bound effort with his right foot in the eighth minute from Neil Farrugia.

Rovers racked up a series of six first half corners but failed to capitalise on those set pieces.

UCD skipper Jack Keaney marshalled his back five well and reduced Rovers to mostly passing across the front of the defence.

When the half time whistle went, Rovers supporters were left wondering just how their team hadn’t created more clear cut opportunities from all the play that they had.

Bradley brought on Aaron Greene in place of Watts ten minutes into the second half to add a bit more directness and he almost put the Hoops in front moments after coming on. He also hit the side netting.

UCD: Moore; Curtis (Osam 61), O'Brien, Keaney, Clancy, O'Regan; Verdon, Brennan; Keane (Barr 81), Behan; Doyle (Kinsella-Bishop 67).

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus; Cleary, Lopes, Hoare; Farrugia, O'Neill, Watts (Greene 55), Clarke; Burke, Gaffney, Burt (Razi 85).

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork).