26 March 2009
Irish Universities v Irish Defence Forces - A six goal thriller ended all square.
Match Report
Irish Universities 3
Irish Defence Forces 3
A six goal thriller ended all square at St Kevins Boys FC when the
Irish Universities and the Irish Defence Forces met in their annual
representative game for the Irish Life Trophy.
The students had all the early pressure and Evan Connolly fired them
ahead with a fine effort on 21 minutes after good work by Austin Friel.
But goals either side of half time from Micky Comerford and Tommy
Fitzgibbon got the Forces right back in the game.
However an unfortunate own goal from centre back Paddy Conlon after
Gareth Mathews had crossed low into the box pulled the Universities level
just before the hour mark.
Friel then struck to net their third on 65 minutes finishing
smartly from a Stephen Roche cross on 65 minutes.
But the Forces responded once again to claim a deserved equaliser
on 71 minutes when Fitzgibbon beat Cian Byrne with a neat header.
The Forces retain the trophy by virtue of last seasons' 3-0
victory at The Mardyke.
Irish Universities:Cian Byrne (UCD),Gareth Mathews (UCD)(Colin Hyland
(Dublin Univ)83,Ciaran Boyd (UU Jordanstown),Mark Surgenor (UU Jordanstown),
Brian Cleary (Univ of Limerick), Mick Kelly (UCD), Evin O'Reilly (Dublin
Univ)(Dwayne Wilson (UCD) 67, Chris Allen (Dublin Univ), Austin Freil (Magee
College), Evan Connolly (UCD) (Stephen O'Brien (UCC) 73, Eoin Roche
(UCD).Subs unused :Anthony Costigan (DCU), Niall O'Carroll (Dublin Univ).
Irish Defence Forces:Darren Kelly, Ray McCann (Stephen O'Donnell ht), Alan
Corboy, Anthony Shevlin (Marcus McDonnell ht), Paddy Conlon, Tony
Griffith,Micky Comerford, Colin Fortune, Tommy Fitzgibbon, Trevor Gethins
(Patrick Mahon ht), Micky O'Shea.Subs unused:Cathal Martin, Chris Fox, John
Greene.
Irish Universities 3 (E Connolly 21, P Conlon og 55, AFriel 65)
Irish Defence Forces 3 (M Comerford 40, T Fitzgibbon 47, 71).
Referee:Neil Doyle (Dublin).
