UCD delivered a commanding 4-0 win over Cobh Ramblers at the UCD Bowl, with goals from Stephen Mohan, Hugh Smith, Killian Cailloce and Ciaran Behan sealing an impressive First Division victory.

UCD 4

Cobh Ramblers 0

There can be little doubt that University College Dublin are an unusual football club, based largely round the football scholarships offered by the college. None the less they have produced many players who have gone on to have successful careers not just in the League of Ireland but further afield. Names such as Liam Scales, Enda Stevens, and Neil Farrugia come to mind. On the other hand UCD have a notoriously small fanbase, which included until his untimely death the Father Ted actor Dermot Morgan, an occasional visitor to Belfield. When asked why he attended UCD matches, Dermot reportedly replied “Because I hate crowds”.

UCD joined the League of Ireland in 1979 after Cork Celtic was expelled, 6 years before Ramblers, who were elected into the league in 1985. Since 2008 they have played at the UCD Bowl which is shared with the college’s rugby team. This has caused continuing issues with the pitch with frequent game postponements. There were no such issues with the surface for Friday night’s clash with Cobh Ramblers.

In the 2020s the students have been a near constant in the playoffs. In 2020 they lost in the playoffs to Longford, achieving promotion however the following year by beating Waterford in the playoff final. They retained their premier league status at the end of 2022 by defeating Waterford again in the promotion / relegation final. In 2023 they finished bottom of the Premier League and were relegated. They qualified for the playoffs in both 2024 and 2025 losing to Bray Wanderers on both occasions. This season they will have serious ambitions to once again reach the playoffs. 

Ramblers arrived into the capital with an injury ravaged defence, with Gary Buckley, Cian Coleman, Shane ‘Big Griff’ Griffen and Lucas Le Bervet all still out. Midfielder Shane ‘Little Griff’ Griffen is still a long-term absentee.  Claudio Osorio dropped out of the match day squad completely, being replaced with Mikey Carroll. Dylan McGlade made his first start of the season.

The Students immediately started well with a flurry of corners with led to Louis Dignam shooting wide from just inside the box after 3 minutes. As UCD continued to dominate Ciaran Behan saw his shot deflected over bar in the 9th minute. On 19 minutes, against the run of play, Wilson Waweru broke through the UCD defence but skewered his shot wide. It was Ramblers only clear-cut chance of the first half. In the 23rd minute the Students deservedly took the lead as a Mikey McCullagh cross was headed home by Stephen Mohan, who out jumped Mikey Carroll well. 

On 24 minutes McCullagh almost had a goal of his own as his strike from the edge of the box was deflected by Ram’s keeper Timo Martin onto the post and behind. As the half drew to an end Carl Lennox was booked for the students after a tackle on Rhys Gourdie. UCD dominated a low quality first half and were unlucky to be only one up with Ramblers creating very little. 

Rams started the second half much better. On 47 minutes UCD failed to clear from a Ramblers corner and Mikey Carroll fired a wicked shot from the edge of the box which Kavanagh tipped over well. Two minutes later McGlade fired narrowly over from distance. That was as good as the night got for the Rams. In the 50th minute Curtin was harshly booked for what seemed like an innocuous challenge.

As Ramblers continued to push the Students broke in the 54th minute to doubled their lead when Hugh Smith meet a McCullagh cross to head home from 7 yards. Two minutes later McCullagh almost scored himself but his shot squirmed wide from the edge of the box. 

Ramblers rang the changes on 61 minutes with the introduction of Kai O’Neill, Anthony Adenopo and Rhys Kelly-Noonan for Crowe, McGlade and Wilson. The changes seemed to inject more energy into Cobh’s performance with the second half proving to be much more even than the first. On 63 minutes Hugh Smith nearly had his second as his shot from 6 yards was saved well by Timo Martin. With 10 minutes remaining Ramblers had their final chance as a Rhys Brennan cross from the left found Adenopo in the box but the Cobh forward couldn’t convert.

It was downhill after that for the Rams as Killian Cailloce volleyed home in the 85th minute from close range to put UCD three up and the result beyond doubt. Two minutes from time a Ragget header was parried by Martin but Ciaran Behan followed up to complete a 4 nil win for the Students and a thoroughly dismal night for Cobh Ramblers. Late on James O’Halloran and Ethan O’Donovan replaced Gourdie and Carrol. The four goal margin maybe flattered UCD but nonetheless they were fully deserving of their victory.

The result pushes UCD up to third on 10 points. Ramblers are left in ninth on 6 points with only one win from their first seven games. 

Next up for UCD is a trip to Athlone Town while Cobh Ramblers face Kerry in Tralee. Both games will be played on Friday the 3rd April.