Saints hang on for point - November 13, 2000 UCD 1 St. Patrick's Athletic 1 Saints boss Pat Dolan hailed UCD as "the best side we've met this year" after watching his side come away with a point they scarcely deserved. The visitors took the lead in the 29th-minute when Robert McAuley, under pressure from Liam Kelly, tripped in the area and handled the ball to prevent it running loose to Ger McCarthy. Robbie Griffin planted the spot-kick past Barry Ryan - and then from then on St. Pats were hanging on for dear life! Before half time Aidan Lynch and Eoin Bennis had already spurned good chances to equalise and the Students peppered Pats' goal as they upped the tempo in the second half. O'Donnell headed just over and Clive Delaney, stretching out his endless legs, just failed to get to a Bennis cross. UCD made the inevitable breakthrough on 69 minutes when Aidan Lynch's flick put Eoin Bennis clear and he stroked the ball past Seamus Kelly. But Pats could have nicked the win late on when Ger McCarthy shaved the upright. UCD: Ryan, Mahon, McAuley, Delaney, McLaughlin, O'Donnell, Lynch, Kavanagh, Martyn, Bennis, Grogan Goal: Bennis 69 Booked: O'Donnell, McAuley St. Patrick's Athletic: S Kelly, Croly, Foley, Maguire, K Doyle, Byrne, Griffin, Osam, G Doyle, L Kelly, McCarthy Subs: McNevin for G Doyle 60 mins, R McGuinness for Osam 81, Harris for Byrne 81 Goal: Griffin pen. 29 Referee: J McDermott (Dublin) |