UCD goalkeeper Matt Gregg snatched a sensational point in the fourth minute of added time in this relegation battle at the Belfield Bowl, writes Mark Cummins.
Cobh looked to have taken all three points which would have seen them move above Galway United at the foot of the table.
Their opener came from the penalty spot courtesy of Ross Gaynor on 12 minutes, after Daryl Kavanagh was pulled down by Gregg in the area.
The two sides went at it hammer and tongs from the start with both attack-minded formations creating plenty of chances.
Cobh looked slightly more in control and had early chances through Kavanagh and O’Neill.
That breakthrough came for Ramblers when they were awarded the penalty and Gaynor stepped up and crashed the spot-kick past the UCD 'keeper into the back of the net.
UCD enjoyed a lot of possession and continued to attack as the half progressed, but they couldn’t find that killer instinct to finish off their good work.
This was typified just after the half hour mark when Pat McWalter created a great opening on the left of the box, but then shot tamely at James McCarthy.
UCD started the second half in a shaky fashion and a mix-up between Gregg and Conor Kenna nearly let Gaynor in, but Ian Bermingham cleared the danger.
UCD put some good passages of play together after that and on 53, Shane Fitzgerald shot over the bar from the edge of the box when he should really have done better.
College were doing well in the middle of the park but couldn’t find a way past the resolute Ramblers defence. The back four were complemented by transfer window singings Colin O’Brien and Greg O’Halloran who slotted in just in front of them.
UCD pushed and pushed and got their reward in the fourth minute of injury time when Gregg got his head to a Derek Doyle free and knocked the ball past McCarthy.
UCD: Gregg, Harding (McFaul 68), Bermingham, Kenna, McMillan, King, Fitzgerald, Finn (McNally 74), McWalter, J O’Neill (Forsyth 55), Doyle.
Cobh Ramblers: McCarthy, Carey, Lally, Murray, Guthrie, O’Halloran (Kearney 79), O’Brien, D O’Neill, O’Shea (Coleman 74), Gaynor, Kavanagh (Meade 86).
Ref: P Sutton.
