St Patrick's Athletic 1 UCD 2
The crowd may have been subdued for long periods but this game provided plenty of flashpoints to spark them into life as Pat's had two goals disallowed and in a frantic finale saw a great shot crash off the UCD crossbar as the home side desperately chased an elusive equaliser.
Robbie Martin's sixth goal of the season was the difference between the sides in the end as in-form UCD took the full 3 points from Richmond Park. It was Paul Doolin who masterminded this impressive win for the students and he also scored the first goal in a pacey game.
Picking up the ball some 40 yards from the goal, Doolin played in McNally, who is half his age, and set off unmarked by the Saints defence to receive the return pass.
With the ball at his feet again with his back to goal, Doolin somehow held off a challenge before turning and shooting past goalkeeper Shay Kelly to score a fine goal.
Pat's had chances to level the game as Paul Osam nodded a Michael Holt cross that flew over the top. Colm Foley then thought he had headed an equaliser from a free-kick on 42 minutes but the referee disallowed it for pushing.
Osam then shot wide from right in front of goal, again after a Russell free-kick caused the visitor's the usual problems.
Liam Kelly equalised for St Patrick's 11 minutes after the break, his second in two games, as the home side enjoyed their best spell of the game. Kelly dived low to head home after Osam headed a Mbazbazi cross into his path.
But the Martin brothers had the final word as John Martin set up his younger brother Robbie for what turned out to be the winner on 67 minutes.
John got to the end line to whip in a good cross and Robbie supplied the cool finishing touch that you would expect from a striker on his current form. Two bad games on the trot for the off-colour Saints but credit has to go to the wily player manager Paul Doolin who has turned UCD into a team that will be far from the relegation dogfight that many pundits predicted for them earlier in the season.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Kelly; Crolly, Maguire, C Foley, Donnelly; Mbabazi, Marney, Osam, Russell; Holt, L Kelly. Subs: McCarthy for Donnelly (75 mins), McGuinnes and Doyle for Marney and Holt (both 83 mins).
UCD: B. Ryan; Keating, Delaney, McDonnell, D Ryan; J Martin, Doolin, McNally, O'Donnell; Martyn, R Martin. Subs: Finn for Martyn (75 mins.).
Referee: A Kelly (Cork).
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