St Patrick's Athletic dropped two valuable eLoI Premier Division points when they were held to a 1-1 draw by their bogey-team UCD in this at Richmond Park writes Mark Cummins.
Derek Doyle put UCD ahead on 26 minutes with College’s first shot on goal before Alan Kirby put Pat's level with a low drive past Darren Quigley on 67 minutes.
UCD boss Pete Mahon, who masterminded a late comeback draw against the Saints at home in mid-May, opted to leave new signing Peter Hynes on the bench while there was no room in the squad for the recent arrival from Inchicore, Peter Murphy.
Pat's boss Johnny McDonnell gave his new striker, Glen Fitzpatrick, a start with regular starter Mark Quigley on the bench.
In fact, it was the first league game this season Quigley failed to start for the home side.
A quick look at the 'injured players section' of the director’s box also indicated other big names missing for Pat’s - with Colm Foley, Stephen Paisley Michael Keane, Gary O'Neill and Joseph Ndo all sitting this one out.
Pat's had the first chance, after seven minutes, when John Frost sent in a corner from the right but Anto Murphy's connecting header hit the ground. Murphy then went close having collected a Fitzpatrick ball.
Things petered out a little then until the 24th minute, when Ryan Guy shot just wide for Pat's from just left of the box.
Then, on 26 minutes, UCD took the lead with their first attack on goal.
Doyle latched on to a Brian King ball and dashed through the Pat's defence to fire past Barry Ryan from left of the box and into the top right corner of the Kilmainham end goal.
Murphy had a chance to get Pat's back into it on the half hour when he broke loose on the left wing.
He had Guy to his left but held on to the ball for to long and before he knew it, seven College players were back defending.
The ball did eventually fall to Keith Fahey but by then the momentum had gone.
On 35, Fahey slotted wide following an excellent passage of play involving several players.
On 39, ref Declan Hanney waived away Pat's claims for a penalty when Guy went down in the box under pressure from Alan McNally.
On the restart, UCD captain McDonnell headed just wide from an Alan Mahon cross.
Pat's Billy Gibson then gave away possession to Shane Fitzgerald but Darragh Maguire tidied up inside his own goalmouth.
On 55, Murphy again broke lose with the option of Fitzpatrick in the box but again it looked like had had taken to much time with the ball.
The inrushing UCD players soon filled the box but Murphy managed to get a ball over to Fitzpatrick who in turn teed up Guy who saw his shot blocked by the UCD defence.
McNally and Doyle both had shots blocked in a tremendous goalmouth scramble on 60 minutes. Seconds later, Quigley made his entrance for Pat’s replacing Guy.
The change seemed to do Pat's good and they drew level on 67.
A Fahey ball found its way into the box where, after a bit of a scramble, Kirby lashed a low drive past Quigley.
McDonnell and Fahey suffered a clash of heads on 70 which saw then both replaced several minutes later with McDonnell looking to have had come off worst.
Ian Bermingham went close with his shot that bounced off Brian King on 73 while Quigley superbly blocked a Murphy header on 88 and Quigley on 90.
St Pat's: Ryan, Brennan (O'Connor 68), Frost, Rogers, Maguire, Gibson, Kirby, Fahey (Macek 72), Fitzpatrick, Guy (Quigley 61), Murphy.
UCD: Quigley, Mahon, Bermingham, Kenna, McNally, McDonnell (Shorthall 72), Fitzgerald, Finn (Hynes 82), Sammon, King, Doyle (Byrne 62).
Referee: D Haney (Dub).
