UCD won for the first time in a dozen games to move within a point of Finn Harps.
UCD 1 Finn Harps 0
Jason McClelland’s goal, after only eight minutes, condemned Harps to what could prove a costly defeat in the race for Premier Division survival.
Ollie Horgan’s side, who had taken four points from their last two games, were beaten by a badly-depleted UCD, who had only two substitutes – one of whom was a goalkeeper.
UCD have lost half a team of late and manager Collie O’Neill has yet to add new faces, leaving him with only a 13-man squad tonight.
But they hit the front early on when McClelland steered home past Mark Anthony McGinley after good approach work by Danu Kinsella-Bishop.
Energised by the goal, UCD were intent on a repeat of a 3-0 pasting they handed Harps earlier in the season.
However, Yoho Mahdy couldn’t hit the target after a good passage of play by the hosts.
Nathan Boyle, who scored both goals in Harps’ 2-0 win over Sligo last weekend, was denied by Conor Kearns when the Harps hitman broke clear.
Kearns was on form for UCD and Harps’ finishing let them down on occasion.
Mahdy was thwarted by Sam Todd and Daniel O’Reilly with Harps fortunate not to fall further behind.
Harps saw the return of Keith Cowan, Raffaele Cretaro and Jacob Borg, but McGinley had to be at his best to save from the ever-threatening Mahdy.
Cretaro saw a shot deflect off a defender and Kearns was able to collect.
Kearns was worked by Caolan McAleer’s volley, but he was called to arms by a Daniel O’Reilly header that drew a top-drawer save from the home ‘keeper.
UCD held on to claim a win that may yet prove decisive.
UCD: Conor Kearns, Daniel Tobin, Harry McEvoy, Evan Farrell, Luke Boore, Paul Doyle, Jason McClellend, Mark Dignam, Yoyo Mahdy, Danu Kinsella Bishop, Richie O’Farrell
Finn Harps: Mark Anthony McGinley; Keith Cowan, Daniel O’Reilly, Sam Todd, Mark Russell, Jacob Borg (Tony McNamee ‘46), Gareth Harkin (Mikey Place ‘70), Mark Coyle, Caolan McAleer, Raffaele Cretaro (Mark Timlin ‘62), Nathan Boyle
Referee: Rob Rogers
