League Report: Cabinteely 3 - 3 UCD

UCD came back from two goals down but missed the chance to go top after playing out a six-goal thriller with Cabinteely at Stradbrook Park on Thursday.

Collie O'Neill's side had a chance to leapfrog Waterford and Cobh Ramblers after the game was moved forward 24 hours to accomodate Cabo's friendly with New Zealand on Tuesday.

Daire Doyle and Joe Doyle scored either side of Georgie Kelly's equaliser to send Cabo in 2-1 up at the break, before Marty Waters made it 3-1 midway through the second period.

Keeper Michael Kelly was given a straight red 28 minutes from time and UCD levelled through Georgie Kelly and Jason McClelland as Cabo held out despite Christian Lotefa's late dismissal.

Cabinteely took the lead with a mere three minutes after a spell of sustained pressure led to the game's first corner, which Evan Galvin took from wide on the left.

UCD keeper Niall Corbet punched it to the edge the box, and it was worked out left to Kevin Knight, who steadied himself and crossed for Daire Doyle to glance the ball into the bottom corner.

Cabo continued to have the best of the early exchanges and the threatening Galvin went close shortly afterwards, cutting in from the left to drive a shot that Corbet clutched to his chest.

Against the run of play, the Students should have levelled as McClelland flicked through for Georgie Kelly, but the striker's shot was close enough to Michael Kelly for the keeper to block with his feet.

He would make no mistake two minutes later, however, as he was slipped in on the right-hand side of the box by O'Connor before curling the ball into the far corner with the outside of his boot.

The momentum shifted towards the visitors, for whom O'Connor had a shot well charged down on the edge of the box before McClelland curled a long-range free kick inches over the bar.

They were unlocked again, though, midway through the half as Galvin wandered infield and played a diagonal pass inside Liam Scales, and Joe Doyle had time and space to pick out the corner.

As the half drew to a close, the Students saw more of the ball and sought to press for an equaliser but the final ball evaded them as Gary O'Neill and O'Connor were thwarted by timely interceptions.

Joe Doyle had an excellent chance to make it 3-1 eight minutes after the break when he was played in by Waters and coolly lofted the ball over Corbet only to see it bounce off the post and wide.

The Students began to turn the screw again as the hour approached as McClelland began to run things in the middle. Scales went close twice with headers either side of Kelly slicing wide.

Cabo extended the lead when Corbet failed to collect a punt from his opposite number and Waters capitalised on the keeper's indecision by lifting the ball over his head and into the net.

Collie O'Neill introduced Ben Hanrahan for Maxi Kouogun immediately as he reverted to a flat back four, and the great threat up top soon paid off as Cabo were reduced to ten men.

McClelland played a lovely ball over the top for O'Connor to run onto and Cabo keeper Michael Kelly careered out of his box before taking the youngster out with a sliding tackle.

Pat Devlin took off captain Daire Doyle to introduced sub keeper Jack Menton, but he was soon picking the ball out of his net as Cabo failed to clear a free kick and Kelly stabbed home his second.

Moments later, it was level as McClelland curled a stunning shot from the edge of the box into the top corner, leaving the hapless Menton once again digging the ball out of his net.

Substitute Ben Hanrahan, who moved to UCD from Cabo in the winter, almost completed a remarkable turnaround following a strong run from Evan Osam but he flashed his shot wide.

Ten-man Cabo continued to chase the game as full time approached and Jack Watson could have stolen the game back for Cabo in injury time but he couldn't steer Knight's cross back on goal.

Cabo were reduced to nine men deep into injury time as Lotefa was dismissed for a second bookable offence, but the hosts held on as UCD missed a golden opportunity to top the table.

Cabinteely: Michael Kelly; Karl Byrne, Conor Keeley, Sean Fitzpatrick, Kevin Knight; Jack Watson, Christian Lotefa, Daire Doyle (Jack Menton 74), Evan Galvin (Rob McGee 86); Joe Doyle, Kieran Marty Waters.

Subs not used: Adam Harney, Rob McGee, Anto Dolan, Cory Galvin, Aaron Robinson, Michael Scott.

Booked: Christian Lotefa (77, 90+4).

Sent off: Michael Kelly (72), Christian Lotefa (90+4).

UCD AFC: Niall Corbet; Josh Collins, Maxi Kouogun (Ben Hanrahan 66), Liam Scale; Dan Tobin (Rob Manley 78), Gary O'Neill, Greg Sloggett, Jason McClelland, Evan Osam; Daire O'Connor, Georgie Kelly.

Subs not used: Conor Kearns (gk), Sean Coyne, Joe Manley, Cian Kavanagh, Gareth Coughlan, Ben Hanrahan, Rob Manley.

Booked: None.

Referee: John McLoughlin.

Attendance: 250 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Jason McClelland (UCD).