Resurgent Dundalk FC glide up the league table following emphatic win in Dublin

SSE Airtricity Premier Division 

UCD 0-2 Dundalk

A resurgent Dundalk FC moved up to fourth place in the SSE Airtricity League table after recording a 2-0 Bank Holiday Monday victory over struggling UCD in Belfield.

For the second time in the space of four days, it was John Martin and Ryan O’Kane who got themselves on the scoresheet, as The Lilywhites extended their unbeaten run to four matches.

Dundalk had chances early on through Archie Davies, who curled straight at Kian Moore, before O’Kane, after finding himself in space, forced a good save out of the UCD goalkeeper.

The visitors took the lead on 35 minutes, when O’Kane’s corner from the left was met at the back post by Martin, who turned home to score his second in as many games.

Early in the second half, Danu Kinsella-Bishop forced Nathan Shepperd to save, while at the other end, Connor Malley had a goal ruled out for offside.

Wasiri Williams headed over for Dundalk, who although rarely threatened, would have welcomed a second goal to ease their nerves.

Those nerves were justified as UCD had chances to equalise thereafter, with Daniel Norris forcing Shepperd to save, before Jake Doyle curled one just off target in the 90th minute.

However, The Lilywhites made the points safe four minutes into stoppage-time, when the superb O’Kane teased Evan Osam out on the left before rifling a shot from outside the area that went in off the crossbar.

UCD: Kian Moore; Evan Osam, Adam Wells, Jack Keaney, Jesse Dempsey; Daniel Norris (Divine Izekor 85), Dara Keane (Jake Doyle 74), Donal Higgins (Michael Gallagher 54), Ciaran Behan; Danu Kinsella-Bishop (Sami Clarke 54), Alex Nolan (Harry O’Connor 85)

Subs not used: Lorcan Healy (gk), Ryan Bowden, Daniel Babb, Luke O’Regan

Dundalk FC: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Hayden Muller, Wasiri Williams, Darragh Leahy; Rayhaan Tulloch (Paul Doyle 88), Johannes Yli-Kokko (Patrick Hoban 66), Connor Malley, Alfie Lewis, Ryan O’Kane; John Martin (Robbie Benson 66) (Keith Ward 69)

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Mark Byrne (gk), Robbie McCourt, Eoin Kenny, Sean Bannon

Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford)

Attendance: 759