League Report: UCD 0 - 1 Cobh Ramblers

Cobh Ramblers moved within three points of UCD in the final promotion play-off spot with a 1-0 victory over the Students in Belfield on Friday night.

Eoin McGreevy netted 19 minutes from time in a game that won't live long in the memory for the quality of football played but which may well have a huge bearing on the First Division run-in.

Both sides made changes from last week having missed a round of league games in order to participate in FAI Cup Quarter Finals.

UCD boss Collie O'Neill reintroduced Jason McClelland for Jack Watson following last Friday's narrow defeat to Dundalk, necessitating a switch for Cathal Brady from wing to second striker.

Ramblers boss Stephen Henderson opted to switch from a 3-5-2 to the flat back four that yielded two goals in the second half of a 3-2 defeat away to St Patrick's Athletic, with Shane O'Connor missing out through suspension.

While the Rams overwhelmed their Premier Division opposition on that occasion, despite falling short, they reverted to the cautious approach that had brought about a 3-0 half-time deficit.

The technically-superior Students dominated possession and position on the pitch for the majority of the game but, the attacking threat of Marty Waters aside, struggled to make inroads into the solid Rams rearguard.

It took 42 minutes for the first shot on target to materialise. It may not quite have been worth the wait, but McGreevy showed impressive technique to get his foot over a chest-height clearance and was unfortunate to shoot straight at Corbet.

Moments later, the Students had a much clearer chance to take the lead as Jason McClelland's cross found Greg Sloggett, and the midfielder struck low and firmly for what seemed a certain goal, only to see Hunt brilliantly dive low to his right to keep the scores all square at the break.

Four minutes into the second half, a stray backpass from UCD's normally ultra-reliable captain Gary O'Neill played in Connor Ellis, and the teenager on loan from Cork City really should have made it his second goal in successive weeks in Dublin, but shot straight at Corbet.

Mark Langtry and O'Neill had shots clear the crossbar and Cathal Brady brought a low stop from Hunt as the Students looked to press the initiative in the third quarter, but they were stunned when McGreevy popped up to give Ramblers a vital lead.

The ball broke to the midfielder – who had been the Rams' most industrious player throughout – inside the box and he lashed the ball past Corbet at his near post before embarking on a unique celebration that finished with him hurdling a photographer.

UCD had brought on Georgie Kelly in place of Swan as last season's top scorer had toiled without reward up front, but even with Jason Byrne introduced for defender Liam Scales the Students looked toothless in attack.

Ramblers substitute Jonathan Creamer had chances to put the game beyond doubt as College sought to force an equaliser late-on, but the last chance fell to Waters, who saw his possibly-goalbound effort blocked wide by Anthony O'Donnell.

The Rams move within three points of third-placed UCD with four games remaining, though it's essentially a four-point gap as the Students also have a 12-goal cushion going into next week's games at home to Waterford United and away to Athlone Town respectively.

UCD: Niall Corbet; Mark Langtry, Maxi Kouogun, Tomás Boyle, Liam Scales (Jason Byrne 75); Greg Sloggett, Gary O'Neill, Cathal Brady, Marty Waters, Jason McClelland (Simon Power 87); Ryan Swan (Georgie Kelly 66).

Subs not used: Conor O'Donnell (gk), Josh Collins, Jack Watson, Daire O'Connor.

Cobh Ramblers: Paul Hunt; Ben O'Riordan, Kevin Mulcahy, Chris McCarthy, Ian Mylod; Charlie Fleming, Garry Comerford (Darren Murphy 69), Craig Donnelan, Eoin McGreevy (Anthony O'Donnell 76); Rob Lehane (Jonathan Creamer 81), Connor Ellis.

Subs not used: Cian Kingston, Stephen Christopher.

Referee: Michael Connolly.

Attendance: 200 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Eoin McGreevy (Cobh Ramblers).