UL Freshers 2’s overcame a resilient DCU side to advance to a home league final at Maguires this Thursday
UL secured their place in the Fresher 2 League final against TUS Athlone on Thursday following their recent semi-final win over DCU.
At a frost glistened Maguire’s the home side had a tough assignment on their hands in a semi-final clash against DCU.
However, it was UL who started the quicker of the two sides with the marauding wing-back Liam Kiely opening the scoring. Two well struck frees from corner forward Finn Fitzgerald followed this.
It was a fast start from UL who’s early pressure had DCU on the back foot from the off.
Midway through the first half DCU finally opened their account with a fisted point on the break as they attempted to find their feet in the game. UL replied with two well taken points of their own from wing-forward Fionnán Griffin and at this stage the home-side looked comfortable and were playing the more expansive football of the teams.
The next five points however all fell the way of the away side and saw them soar into a one point lead on the brink of half time, a rude awakening for the UL players and management who’s early work had been undone too easily for everyone’s liking. With the last attack of the first half UL number 11 Shane McMahon found full forward Tom Ryan with a delicately threaded kick pass. Ryan made no mistake on finding the back of the net which saw UL lead at half-time with the scoreboard reading 1-05 to 0-06.
The second half was a cagey affair. Captain for the evening Aidan Kelly scored for UL and Finn Fitzgerald increased his personal tally but a penalty awarded to DCU kept them right in the game.
DCU went on to take back the lead with a couple of points of their own. It was anyone’s game.
UL unleashed a plethora of attacking talent from their bench who were rearing to prove their point to all watching. The creative Cormac McGann found talisman Fitzgerald who made no mistake in finding the back of the net and with that UL reclaimed the lead but by the finest of margins. DCU were not going down without a fight however, and hit back – levelling the tie with five minutes left on the clock.
The hardworking substitute Ross Dirrane made great headway down the wing on UL’s next attack and his cute handpass played Josh Kelly in for UL’s third goal of the evening. DCU had one last attack in them which resulted in a point, but it was in rue, the full-time whistle blew, and a wave of relief came over Maguire’s. UL advanced, running out winners on a scoreline of 3-08 to 1-12 and with a league final to look forward to.
The Fresher 2 League Football final will be contested between UL and TUS Athlone and will take place this Thursday at 6.45 pm at Maguires pitches in UL.