UCD will be competing once again in the AIB League’s Division One next season after beating Belfast Harlequins 6-3 at Belfield on the final day of this year’s league phase. See below from photos of the students’ win.
UCD’s director of rugby John McClean spoke afterwards of how it “wasn’t a 6-3 game, there were plenty of chances for both sides.” He was right, this was an end-to-end tie which could have gone either way. Eventually it was decided by a 74th-minute penalty kick from Fergus McFadden, who slotted over from 30 metres out to keep ‘College in the top flight.
The defeat ended Harlequins’ brave fight against relegation. Andy Ward and his players have shown great strength and belief to bounce back from a poor start to the league campaign before Christmas. They had won seven of their previous nine AIB League and Cup games before their final day trip to Dublin 4. Darren Cave, kicking in the absence of the injured Niall O’Connor, fired over a 38th-minute penalty to put the visitors into the lead.
‘Quins only needed a draw to stay up in Division One, but two McFadden kicks saw the students take the spoils and overhaul them in the table.
Commenting on what was a must-win game, UCD hooker and captain Conor Geoghegan said: “Everyone got on board. We had a similar goal and we really went for it. We’re really relieved and thank God we pulled it off.”
UCD v Belfast Harlequins AIB League Photo Gallery
Photos courtesy of Inpho Photography
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