CUFL Premier Division Final - DIT 2 - 0 DCU

DIT proved too strong for a battling 10-man DCU side on Wednesday night as they lifted the CUFL Umbro Premier Division title after a 2-0 win.

Second half goals from Aaron O'Dwyer and Sam Simpson were too much for DCU who had Rory Dunleavy sent off in the first half but battled to no avail.

The first half was a scrappy affair with neither side getting much in the way of clear-cut chances. The big talking point of the first half saw DCU reduced to ten men after 40 minutes.

Referee Paul Tuite booked DCU midfielder Rory Dunleavy after half an hour, before handing the youngster a second yellow, and subsequent red, for another poor challenge ten minutes later. Ben Dale had kept DCU in the game between Dunleavy's cards, with a stunning touch onto the crossbar from a piledriver free kick from DIT.

Michael Isichei forced DIT keeper Nathan Cooney into a superb one handed save at the beginning of the second half before DIT struck the opener against the run of play.

Ryan Matthews moved forward from the left and fired a shot toward Ben Dale’s goal. The shot was blocked but Aaron O’Dwyer, who was becoming more and more dangerous, picked up the loose ball and fired past Dale for the opener.

Isichei was getting more and more possession down the right and he linked up with substitute Connor Ralph to set up Bohemians midfielder Stephen Traynor, but his curling effort went narrowly wide of the far post.

Ben Dale was forced into action again soon; touching Darren Soon’s strike past his near post. DCU were beginning to press harder for an equaliser and were controlling the game but couldn’t find a way past Cooney.

Their pressure was all in vein as DIT put the game beyond their reach with their second goal in the final minutes of the game. Sam Simpson’s long range effort proved too strong for DCU keeper Ben Dale who could only parry the ball into the back of his net.

To their credit, DCU never gave up and DIT keeper Cooney again foiled a great chance as he made a superb point blank save from Connor Ralph in the final minute to ensure a 2-0 win for DIT.

Dublin City University: Ben Dale, Mark Logan, Robbie Gaul, Gavin McArdle, David Gaul; Daniel Mahon (Danny Aherne 81), Rory Dunleavy, Stephen Traynor, Phillip Kavanagh (Connor Ralph HT); Michael Isichei, David Lodola (David Brick HT).
Subs: Emil Hernon, Philip Smithers, Darren Craven, Philip O’Driscoll.
Yellow Cards: Dunleavy, Mahon, Logan.
Red Cards: Dunleavy (40)

Dublin Institute of Technology:  Nathan Cooney, Conor Dowd (Sam Crowe 90), Ryan Matthews, Roberto Lopes, Niall Cooney, Paul Malone, Darren Soon (Sam Simpson 84), Eoin Murray (Craig Smith 91), Jordan Conroy, Tom Smullen (Daniel Higgins 84), Aaron O’Dwyer.
Subs: Graham Fitzpatrick, Eddy Ekofu.
Yellow Cards: Murray, Conroy, Down, Malone

Referee: P Tuite (Dublin)
Man of the Match: Robbie Gaul (DCU)