Students succumb to Champions City thanks to Keating hat-trick

By Donncha Noonan | Photo: Kevin Barry Dorney

After a disappointing loss to local rivals Cobh at their homecoming, Cork City were looking to end the year positively as they hosted UCD in a bid to carry some momentum into next season. They did so in style, as City ran out 5-1 winners against the Dublin outfit.

Barry Robson was forced into one change from the team that fell to Cobh last time out, with the suspended Fiacre Kelleher dropping out of the side, being replaced by Josh Fitzpatrick

As for UCD, William O’Connor went with three changes from their 2-2 draw at home to Athlone last week. Sean Murphy, Ciaran Behan and Niall Holohan all come into the side, replacing Jayden Goad, Sam Norval and Stephen Mohan.

First chance of the game went City’s way in the sixth minute. A Niall O’Keeffe free kick was headed away by a UCD defender, only for the ball to fall to Cillian Murphy at the edge of the box. He took the ball down and fired a low strike at goal, but his shot could only whistle past the left hand post.

City were the dominant team in this one, and it didn’t take long for that dominance to pay dividends as the hosts took the lead in the sixteenth minute. A deep Conor Drinan cross caused danger in the UCD box, with Harry Curtis’ attempted clearance landing to Ruairi Keating at the back post who took his chance and fired the ball into the roof of the net.

City were purring, and after a double chance from Ruairi Keating and Josh Fitzpatrick knocking on the door for a second, they broke that door right down and grabbed said second with twenty minutes gone. Niall O’Keeffe’s quick free-kick slotted Ruairi Keating through on goal, but Dara Kavanagh stood his ground to make a great save. The rebound fell back to the feet of the City striker, who didn’t waste the second chance and rolled the ball into the bottom corner.

Things got better for City and Keating seven minutes later. A lovely forward move from City allowed Keating to lay the ball off to a charging Cillian Murphy, who entered the box before being brought down by Harry Curtis. City’s number nine stepped up to take it, and buried the ball in the bottom right corner to secure a first half hat-trick.

The City forward line were on fire, and Seani Maguire almost got in on the act after half an hour. A long ball from Conor Drinan found the bursting run of Ruairi Keating. Keats squared the ball across for the oncoming Seani Maguire, but the sliding City forward could only slam an effort off of the post.

Maguire wasn’t happy with not being in on the action, and eventually got his goal seven minutes later. A lovely one-two between Keating and Maguire released the latter through on goal, and Seani took full advantage by slotting an excellent finish into the bottom right corner.

That was all for a first half where City absolutely blitzed the visitors, and built themselves a comfortable lead going into the second period.

UCD started brighter in the second half than they did the first, and they got a penalty for their troubles three minutes in. A lovely backheel in the box from Hugh Smith found a barrelling Louie Dignam, who tapped the ball past Rory Feely before the CIty defender brought him down. Smith stepped up to take it, and nestled the ball into the bottom right corner to give the visitors a lifeline.

City were quick to shut any possible comeback down just a minute later. A brilliant long ball around the back of the UCD defence found the run of Seani Maguire in behind, who recreated his cup semi-final goal from last year by rounding the sweeping Dara Kavanagh and rolling the ball into the back of the net.

UCD spent the rest of the half searching for an alleyway back into this affair, but barring a half-chance from Goodness Ogbonna midway through the second half, couldn’t really create anything to write home about.

And that was all she wrote for this one, as City ran out 5-1 winners to emphatically put themselves back on form heading into the final few games of the season. The man to man pressing from City was particularly interesting and effective, as they almost choked UCD into giving the ball away in their own area. Everything went right for City on the day, and we can only hope things can be replicated next year.

My Man of the Match goes to Ruairi Keating. As far as halves go, Keats’ first half is about as good as it can get for a striker, bagging three goals and an assist. He was a force to be reckoned with up top, forming a great link up with Seani Maguire as the pair terrorised the UCD backline.

City now face back to back away trips, the first of which being in Longford next Saturday. As for UCD, they’ll look to regain form at home to Bray as they try to pick up momentum heading into the playoffs.