As so typically the case this season, Colm Whelan proved UCD’s match-winner with a surprising free-kick purpose and a elegant help to place the College students into the Premier Division promotion/relegation play-off.
They deservedly beat Bray Wanderers at Dalymount Park on this First Division play-off remaining, and Andy Myler’s College students will now meet Waterford subsequent Friday to resolve which division the respective sides will play in subsequent season.
Although roared on by very a lot nearly all of assist within the stand, Bray discovered themselves on the again foot for the majority of the primary half, labouring to get on the ball as Faculty’s Paul Doyle and Dara Keane dominated midfield.
Within the chief probability of the half, the body of their purpose rescued Bray on 37 minutes.
Proper-back Michael Gallagher’s glorious ball down the precise despatched Keane to the tip line.
The pull-back discovered Whelan who took a contact earlier than rifling a drive off Brian Maher’s left-hand submit.
Maher twice saved properly from Whelan and Liam Kerrigan earlier than being given no probability for UCD’s opening purpose on 68 minutes as Andrew Quinn’s foul on Whelan proved pricey.
Whelan took the direct strike himself, thumping the ball previous the wall to enter the nook of the web for his twenty sixth purpose in all competitions this season.
Eire U-21 worldwide Whelan then turned supplier with a pleasant chipped move for the spectacular Doyle to chop previous a defender and drill a shot to the web on 87 minutes.
Bray Wanderers – Maher; Byrne, Quinn, Barry, Barnett; Graydon, Lovic (Kinsella 80), O’Farrell, Craven (Verdon 75); Kavanagh; Doyle.
UCD – Healy; Gallagher, O’Brien, Todd, Osam; Keaney; Kerrigan, Keane (Dignam 90), Brennan, Doyle (Verdon 90); Whelan.
Ref – Oliver Moran (Dublin)