UCD progressed through to a third round FAI Cup meeting with Waterford United at Belfield, but were made to work every step of the way by a determined Youghal United, who tested the Students’ staying power to the hilt.

The hosts had gone ahead on 19 when Robert McAuley capitalised on a defensive mix-up involving United keeper Kieran Fleming and defender David Coleman to slot home to an guarded net.

McAuley had earlier driven wide from the edge of the area and witnessed Glen Fitzpatrick’s goalbound header nodded off the line by Derek Murphy.

Fleming was given more than enough chances to redeem the Youghal defence, the most notable coming on the stroke of half-time when, cat-like, he arched back to produce a fingertip save from a Fitzpatrick header, before having to repeat the act when the first save wasn’t enough to change the path of the ball.

The visitors had their chances too of breaching the home goal before the deadlock was broken, with Darren Hennessy narrowly failing to connect with a third-minute Forrest cross, and a David Kearns strike which flew over from 20 yards.

1-0 down at the break, Youghal needed something dramatic to get them back into the tie, and got it when Murphy rifled home from 25 yards beyond a stunned Paddy O’Leary in the UCD goal after the claret-and-blue defender’s original free-kick from similar range was rebuffed by the wall.

The goal was a perfect cue for the entire team to chase down the scorer right in front of 600 jubilant travelling fans in the main stand.

The strike was of such quality that veteran RTE commentator Jimmy Magee described it afterwards as “the greatest goal I have ever seen at Belfield”. Praise indeed.

From there, a Wednesday afternoon replay at Ardrath Park looked likely until the introduction of UCD top scorer Kevin Grogan, whose 34-minute contribution was man-of-the-match stuff.

Grogan turned the tie, providing assists for College’s two late clinching goals. The first of the pair arrived on 71 and saw Grogan floating a dangerous free-lick into the Youghal box for fellow sub Robbie Martin to nod home at the far post.

The clincher came ten minutes later – a sweeping run forward from Grogan set up Ciaran Martyn to slot home from close range.

It was the goal that ended this season’s FAI Cup dream for the East Cork outfit, but as the visiting side received a standing ovation from the 700 crowd at the end, you did get the tangible feeling that the Munster Senior League side could get used to occasions such as these every couple of seasons.

UCD – O’Leary, McLoughlin, Mahon, Martyn, Delaney, Kavanagh, J Martin (sub Brogan 56), McDonnell, McAuley, Fitzpatrick, Bennis (sub R Martin 66).
YOUGHAL UNITED – Fleming, Kiely, Coleman (inj, sub O’Driscoll 43), Murphy, Horgan, Kearns (sub Whyte 78), Goggin, Corcoran (sub Kenneally 83), Forrest, Healy, Hennessy.
Referee: Dick O'Hanlon (Waterford).

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