Douglas fails Students exam against Dundalk
HUGHIE DOUGLAS flunked his Students test this week as he endured a miserable evening for UCD on Friday.
Aaron Callaghan’s side hosted title hopefuls Dundalk at the Belfield Bowl and they threatened to upset the odds as they took the lead through Gary Burke on 23 minutes.
Their advantage remained intact thanks to Douglas on 30 minutes as he saved the day after Dundalk striker Pat Hoban had rounded College goalkeeper Conor O’Donnell.
Douglas again denied the Lilywhites in the 43rd minute. He cleared off the line but it only prolonged the inevitable as seconds later, Daryl Horgan crossed for Hoban to head home the equaliser.
Horgan caused trouble for the hosts again in the 59th minute. His cross forced Douglas to act but unfortunately his desperate clearance struck teammate Mark Langtry and ended in the back of the net.
And Douglas’ misery was compounded 11 minutes from time. Hoban was charging through on goal when he was fouled by Douglas, and he received a red card for his troubles.
Douglas’ fellow red-head, Danny Ledwith, also endured a frustrating evening.
The Arklow men found himself restored at left-back in Ian Baraclough’s starting XI for the trip to Cork and he certainly showed the manager what he was capable of.
On 21 minutes, Aaron Greene delivered a cross from the right that Ledwith caught on the volley but Cork City goalkeeper Mark McNulty was equal to the effort.
A cracking drive from Ledwith early in the second period forced the shot-stopper into another fine save before a delightful through ball from Ledwith released Greene but he shot disappointingly wide with just the ‘keeper to beat.
Ledwith was then withdrawn on 64 minutes and his side’s miserable start to the season would continue; Kieran Djilali fired them ahead on 88 minutes but they were denied victory as Billy Dennehy converted a 93 rd minute penalty to equalise.
Late goals also proved decisive at Tallaght Stadium as Shamrock Rovers B took on Longford Town.
An injury in the warm-up ruled out Corie Treacy but Chris Lyons took his place up front for Colin Hawkins’ side.
For the Town, Davy O’Sullivan and Kevin O’Connor made the cut, while Rhys Gorman and Willie Tyrrell started on the bench.
It was a frustrating afternoon’s work for O’Sullivan. He sent a half-volley narrowly wide in the ninth minute, before teeing up Gary Shaw for a near miss on 20 minutes.
The home side then took the lead when former Seagull Kevin Knight released Lyons and he slotted home past Chris Bennion.
In the 34th minute, Sean Russell’s corner kick was met by O’Sullivan but goalkeeper Michael Kelly kept it out. The rebound fell to Kevin O’Connor but his effort was cleared off the line by Ryan Doolin.
O’Sullivan had another chance before the break but his header from a Noel Haverty cross cleared the crossbar.
Longford manager Tony Cousins introduced Greystones man Rhys Gorman at the break and he had a bird’s eye view of O’Sullivan’s equaliser. O’Connor sent in the corner kick and O’Sullivan was left unmarked and duly punished the home side as he nodded home.
Shortly afterwards, Lyons hobbled off to be replaced by Ryan Coombes.
Gorman then teed up O’Sullivan but the striker’s 20-yard effort tamely found the grateful arms of Kelly.
O’Sullivan then thought he’d stolen the points for his side a minute from time but his strike was ruled out for offside.
And heartbreak followed as ex-Town ace Daniel Purdy won it 2-1 for Rovers in the 93rd minute.
It was a week of inactivity for Andy Mulligan, Aaron Barry and Shane Murray.
Mulligan remains out through injury for Bohemians, who slipped to a 0-1 defeat to Limerick on Fridsy evening.
Barry and Murray were both unused substitutes in their side’s respective matches.
On Friday, Derry City overcame Athlone Town by three goals to two at the Brandywell, while on Saturday, Murray’s Waterford United drew 0-0 against local rivals Cobh Ramblers.