YOUNG DUBS GET ‘A’ GRADE IN UCD TEST
DUBLIN…………………………..7-10
UCD……………………………….1-17
Daire Walsh
A STUNNING second-half hat-trick from Colm Basquel was the main highlight at Belfield last night as Dublin and UCD marked the official opening of Billings Park with an entertaining challenge clash that finished 7-10 to 1-17.
This pitch is named in honour of former Dublin, UCD and St Vincent’s stalwart Dave Billings, and with GAA President Aogan O Fearghail on hand to lend his support, it proved to be a fitting tribute to the great man.
While this fixture was an opportunity for Jim Gavin to give game-time to a number of fringe players, there were still some familiar faces amongst the Dublin side. Basquel was joined in attack by Cormac Costello, Ciaran Reddin and Conor McHugh, and former UCD student David Byrne was captaining the side from centre-back.
Early score from Paddy O’Connor, Mayo’s Stephen Coen and Brian Byrne had helped the Students to settled into the game before Dublin responded with the first goal of the evening through Clann Mhuire’s Adam Rogers.
UCD replied with unanswered contributions from Evan O’Carroll (two), O’Connor and centre-back Liam Casey, only for Costello to restore Dublin’s slender lead with a palmed finish from close-in.
After Rogers added a point from a tight angle, John Divilly’s outfit regained the lead with efforts from Byrne and Eric Lowry (two). However, with Lowry, Reddin, Rogers (two) and Costello all finding the range, Dublin developed a 2-7 to 0-11 interval cushion.
As expected, both sides made a host of changes for the second half, and it was substitute Gary Allen who reduced UCD’s deficit to the bare minimum just after the restart. Indeed, a 0-2 salvo from Tom Hayes (in response to another Costello effort) levelled matters before, but it was at this point that Basquel came into his own.
He moved Dublin into the ascendancy with a superb goal on 41 minutes. Brian Daly and Allen did keep UCD within touching distance before another goal from Lucan’s Emmet O Conghaile created further daylight.
Basquel was beginning to play with great freedom on the ’40’, and he broke free for his second goal six minutes from time. His third goal of the contest followed an excellent finish from a tight angle by Costello. UCD claimed a much-deserved consolation through O’Carroll in the closing stages.
Scorers – Dublin: C Costello 2-3 (0-2f), C Basquel 3-0, A Rogers 1-3, E O Conghaile 1-0, R Deegan, C Reddin, C McHugh, G O’Reilly 0-1 each. UCD: E O’Carroll 1-3, E Lowry 0-3 (2f), P O’Connor, B Byrne, T Hayes, G Allen 0-2 each, L Casey, S Coen, B Daly 0-1 each.
Dublin: JB Carthy; E O’Brien, S McMahon, C Wilson; C Doyle, D Byrne, M Tighe; S Carthy, R Deegan; C Reddin, C Basquel, K Callaghan; A Rogers, C Costello, C McHugh.
Subs: R McGowan, G Hannigan, D Devereux, S Ryan, E O Conghaile, A Elliott, G O’Reilly, K Doherty.
UCD: C Manton; L Silke, A Maguire, C O’Shaughnessy; T O’Sullivan, L Casey, J Feehan; J Barry, S Coen; B O Seannachain, P O’Connor, B Byrne; T Hayes, E O’Carroll, E Lowry.
Subs: T O’Brien, E McGrath, T O’Brien, J Rossiter, M Rennick, J Gillen, A Brennan, S Conlon, O Kelly, B Daly, P Fagan, G Allen, L Moran, S Meade, C Mullally.
Referee: T Lambe (St Vincent’s).