MSL soccer: UCC and College Corinthians share points after 2-2 draw

UCC  2

College Corinthians 2

UCC fought back, having trailed twice, to earn a point in their Beamish Stout Senior Premier Division clash with College Corinthians at The Farm on Saturday.

The Students were worth their share of the spoils, but whether it will be enough to save them from relegation remains to be seen.

FAI Intermediate Cup winners Corinthians aren’t out of the woods either, especially in light of Douglas Hall’s 1-0 win over St Mary’s the night before which left both sides on 17 points, one ahead of Cobh Wanderers and two ahead of second from bottom Leeds.

UCC remain in bottom position a point further back, with trips to Ringmahon Rangers and Rockmount still to come.

Corinthians started well with several early efforts from Killian Cooper; the first after six minutes when he latched on to a delivery from the right before shooting narrowly over from the edge of the penalty area.

Two minutes later the striker fired over from the right of the area and midway through the half a snap shot just outside the box stung the hands of UCC keeper Kevin Fitzpatrick.

Corinthians broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark when, following a corner, Eoghan Murphy forced the ball home from close range.

The game was being played at a high-tempo by both sides and that pace continued into the second half.

Two minutes after the restart Corinthians keeper Gavin Ryan had to save Daniel McCarthy’s free kick from the edge of the penalty area.

Four minutes later Corinthians were in on goal when Eric Cunningham’s ball forward saw Destiny Okonkwo win his battle with UCC defender Prince Iyalla and he got a shot off from a tight angle on the right side of the penalty area which was blocked by Fitzpatrick for a corner.

Shortly afterwards, at the other end, Murphy had to make a goal-line clearance as UCC began to press harder.

Corinthians had the better chances to score again though; a Craig Donnellan corner from the right found Keelan Crowley on the far side of the penalty area and his shot took a deflection before going narrowly off target.

Two minutes later Crowley had an even better chance — combining well with Okonkwo on the edge of the penalty area before blasting wide from a good position.

Corinthians paid the price for those missed chances when, in the 70th minute, UCC drew level. A Derry Howard free kick just inside the Corinthians’ half on the right found Ewan Lee at the far post; his header was well saved by Ryan before eventually going out for a corner from which McCarthy headed home.

Corinthians responded well to the leveller and scored what appeared to be the winner with six minutes remaining.

Crowley, faced with two defenders on the right side of the penalty area, made space for a cracking shot that flew past Fitzpatrick into the far top corner of the net.

Their joy was short-lived however; three minutes later UCC levelled again when sub Zach O’Brien broke forward from midfield before firing home from the edge of the penalty area to fire past Ryan.

Corinthians had a chance in injury-time when Iyalla fouled David O’Shaughnessy on the edge of the penalty area, picking up a red card for his challenge, but Ian Turner’s free kick failed to trouble Fitzpatrick who saved comfortably to ensure UCC claimed a deserved point.

UCC: Kevin Fitzpatrick, Ewan Lee, Shane O’Neill, Colm Murphy, Prince Iyalla, Sam Morrissey, Derry Howard, Fionn Duggan, Craig Walsh, Matthew Broderick, Daniel McCarthy.

Subs: Garvan Twomey and Zach O’Brien for Morrissey and Broderick (both 75),

COLLEGE CORINTHIANS: Gavin Ryan, Ian Turner, Adam Walsh, Andrew Neville, Eoghan Murphy, Craig Donnellan, Keelan Crowley, Eric Cunningham, Destiny Okonkwo, Killian Cooper, Ross Welch.

Sub: David O’Shaugnessy for Welch (84).

Referee: Alan McDonagh, Declan Fogarty, Mark O’Connell.