A last-minute Paul O'Conor goal gave UCD a share of the points against Shamrock Rovers in an entertaining Airtricity League Premier Division 2-2 draw at Tallaght Stadium.
Long-range efforts from Billy Dennehy and Daryl Kavanagh had given the champions a 2-0 half-time lead.
But a much-improved second-half showing saw College pull one back through Graham Rusk's 59th minute penalty. Both sides had chances but it was the Students who took their opportunity through O'Conor’s well-taken injury-time goal.
Given UCD’s dreadful recent record against Rovers, the last thing they needed was to concede an early goal. But it took only five minutes for Stephen Kenny’s side to grab the lead.
David O'Connor fouled Gary Twigg outside the box and Billy Dennehy drilled the resulting free low past Mark McGinley in the UCD goal.
The visitors did manage to string a few passes together but their inability to threaten Oscar Jansson’s goal was notable, Chris Lyons was running hard as the solitary attacker but had to feed off scraps.
On the half hour mark, Chris Turner won possession in the midfield and fed Twigg who had peeled off on the right hand side. The Scot tried to find Kavanagh at the back post but the ex-Pat’s man couldn’t apply the finishing touch.
Down at the other end, Daniel Ledwith tried his luck from 25 yards but Jansson claimed with ease.
The Tallaght team were creating plenty of chances and extended their lead six minutes before the break. Kavanagh gathered the ball outside the box and spotted McGinley just off his line before chipping into the top corner.
Despite not creating any clear-cut chances to that point, the visitors could have pulled one back just before the break. Paul Corry put Lyons through on goal but the striker rushed his effort and his lob went well over, much to the disgust of Corry.
After the break UCD upped the tempo of their game – Corry hit the crossbar and Ledwith chipped a free over.
Then, in the 59th minute, Ledwith won a penalty after being fouled by Conor McCormack. Rusk stepped up and nonchalantly rolled the ball past Jansson. Game on.
Twigg, who had a goal disallowed for offside, twice went close as the game became end to end.
Kavanagh was withdrawn for Killian Brennan to a chorus of boos from the home supporters but they still managed to create, and McGinley denied Brennan and Sives headed into the side netting.
Just as it looked like Rovers would get out of town with a win, up stepped O’Conor, getting on the end of a brilliant Mark Langtry pass to slot the ball past Jansson and put a smile on the face of Martin Russell.
Shamrock Rovers: Oscar Jansson, Conor Powell, Craig Sives, Graham Gartland, Conor McCormack (Kerrea Gilbert 81), Chris Turner, Stephen Rice, Gary McCabe, Billy Dennehy (Aaron Greene 73), Gary Twigg (c), Daryl Kavanagh (Killian Brennan 62).
Subs not used: Reyaad Pieterse, Colin Hawkins, Sean Gannon, Gary O’Neill.
UCD: Mark McGinley, Mark Langtry, Hugh Douglas, David O’Connor, Michael Leahy (c), Daniel Ledwith, Paul Corry, Paul O’Conor, Robbie Benson (Samir Belhout 46), Chris Lyons (Cillian Morrison 84), Graham Rusk.
Subs not used: James Kavanagh, Barry McCabe, Gary Burke, Stephen Doyle, Niall Corbet.
Referee: D McKeon.
