Finn marks 500 by helping UCD to win over Ramblers

League of Ireland legend Ronan Finn played his 500th game.

Sean Brennan of UCD reacts during the Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup Quarter Final match between UCD and Bohemians at the UCD Bowl in Belfield, Dublin. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

First Division: UCD 2 (Brennan 44’, McCullagh 60’) Cobh Ramblers 0

It was a memorable 500th appearance in the League of Ireland for UCD captain Ronan Finn as his side saw off a meek Cobh Ramblers in the UCD Bowl.

The first shot that asked anything of either goalkeeper didn’t come until the 21st minute. An Éanna Clancy header forced Darragh Burke in the Cobh goals to stretch slightly before gathering.

The Students were awarded a free on the edge of the box in front of goal on 23 minutes. Adam Verdon’s effort was however closer to orbit than goal. Sam Norval teed up Clancy for the game’s second decent chance in the 37th minute, but his first time effort didn’t worry Burke.

The game finally came to life in the 44th minute as Adam Wells cut a low ball into the middle of the Cobh box. Sean Brennan composed himself and slammed it into the left side of the net, leaving Burke with no chance, as UCD took the lead going into the break.

Mikey McCullagh should have doubled the advantage for the Students in the 51st minute. Sam Norval’s charging run led to a great chance for McCullagh who skied his effort from close range.

Dean Larkin finally gave Cobh something to shout about in the 58th minute. He got his toe on the ball at close range but it went weakly wide. Ramblers would rue that missed chance a minute later.

Brennan found McCullagh charging in from the left as he made it 2-0 to UCD with a low drive to the right corner. Ramblers finally had a shot on target in the 84th minute through a James O’Leary effort. It didn’t trouble Kian Moore and UCD took the points comfortably.

UCD: Kian Moore, Adam Wells, Éanna Clancy, Sean Brennan, Mikey McCullagh, Ronan Finn (Capt), Mikey Raggett, Harry Curtis, Sam Norval, Adam Vernon, Luke O’Regan.

Subs: Danú Kinsella Bishop for O’Regan (66 mins), Alex Dunne for Raggett (66 mins), Donal Higgins for Finn (66 mins), Hugh Parker for McCullagh (72 mins), and Matthew Alonge for Brennan (79 mins).

Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Burke, Michael McCarthy, Brendan Frahill, Dean Larkin, Jack Larkin, Charlie O’Brien, David Eguaibor, Dale Holland, Regix Madika, Luka Le Bervet, Jason Abbott (Capt) 

Subs: Matthew McKevitt for Eguaibor (66 mins), Nolan Evers for Le Bervet (66 mins), James O’Leary for O’Brien (79 mins).