CUFL | Carlton’s late effort secures DkIT a well-deserved share of the spoils against TU Dublin Tallaght
DkIT 2–2 TU Dublin Tallaght
CUFL Division One North
Carlton Ubaezuonu’s late equaliser secured DkIT a well-deserved share of the spoils in their CUFL Division One North league game against table-toppers Tallaght in Muirhevnamor on Tuesday afternoon.
With just one point from their opening two matches, Amos Cholanke’s 79th-minute strike looked set to condemn DkIT to a costly defeat but Thomas McShane’s side dug deep and Ubaezuonu steered his effort past stand-in goalkeeper Daniel Ridge to keep the local college in the hunt for a place in the latter stages.
After finding himself without a number of regulars, the DkIT manager will be delighted with the spirit shown by his side to come from behind on two occasions with Ubaezuonu, midfielder Neil Kerr and goalkeeper Dominik Mlynczak all making a fine contribution throughout the 90 minutes.
Despite a promising start, DkIT found themselves 1–0 down after 24 minutes when Drogheda United’s Jordan Adeyemo stroked home a penalty after he was pulled down in the 18-yard box by James Carroll. Just prior to that, Ubaezuonu forced a magnificent save out of Daniel Butler after a good move involving Carroll and Ardee Celtic’s Bryan O’Connor.
The Tallaght opener came during a good spell for the hosts where midfielders Sean Quinn and Eoin McPhillips started to dictate the tempo but DkIT hauled themselves level on the half-hour when Kerr bravely nipped in ahead of Butler to get his head to a deflected clearance and make it 1–1.
The unlucky Tallaght goalkeeper had to be taken to hospital after suffering an arm injury in the collision that followed forcing former Shamrock Rovers and Limerick boss Pat Scully into a reshuffle which saw centre-back Daniel Ridge take over between the posts.
That led to a lengthy stoppage and Mlynczak had to make the first of a series of great stops to deny the visitors a second when he clawed Adeyemo’s deft header from a Josh Bumale cross to safety in the 48th minute of the half.
Tallaght started the second period with more purpose and Mlynczak made another fantastic save to tip Adeyemo’s blockbuster over the top before Carroll came to DkIT’s rescue when he hacked the pacey striker’s goalbound effort off the line just past the hour mark.
Scully’s frustration with some of referee Robert Martin’s offside decisions began to show as the half wore on and the introduction of another Drogheda United prospect, Barry Akanni, certainly injected some purpose into DkIT as the game tumbled towards the final quarter.
Akanni shot wildly at the target after being invited to let fly by the busy Kerr but Tallaght upped the tempo and Mlynczak denied Adeyemo again in the 73rd minute after the striker was played in by McPhillips’ sublime reverse pass.
There was nothing the DkIT ‘keeper could do to prevent Cholanke from squeezing home what looked to be the winner in the 79th minute but the Tallaght celebrations were short-lived as DkIT hit back just two minutes later.
Akanni was heavily involved, pouncing on a short throw-in to win possession back from Adam Towers and Ubaezuonu took over, shooting low into the exposed corner of Ridge’s net to ensure a point apiece.
With two games left to play, McShane’s side is still well-placed to assume one of the top four spots and qualify for the quarter-final stages.
DkIT: Dominik Mlynczak; James Carroll, Colm Gill, Kevin Utubor; Ronan Cunningham, Neil Kerr, Christopher Healy (Evan Bird 72), Dipo Dele, Tolani Animashaun (Barry Akanni); Carlton Ubaezuonu, Bryan O’Connor. Sub not used: Reggie John.
TU DUBLIN TALLAGHT: Daniel Butler (Brian Sorola); Yoma Agogen, Adam Towers, Daniel Ridge, Cole Omohzouan; Josh Bumale, Craig Canty, Amos Cholanke; Eoin McPhillips; Jordan Adeyemo.
REFEREE: Robert Martin.
