Shamrock Rovers produced a performance filled with defensive frailties in Tallaght Stadium as UCD earned a replay from a incident-packed FAI Cup tie on Monday.
The first half saw both sides enjoy plenty of chances with Ciaran Kilduff left frustrated after missing opportunities to open the scoring.
Karl Sheppard and Kilduff netted in the second period but Samir Belhout gave the Students hope in the final quarter.
Pat Flynn saw red with 10 minutes left and from the resulting free Robbie Creevy headed an equaliser to set up a replay next Monday.
There were six changes for Rovers as Michael O’Neill opted to freshen up the Hoops side after their exertions in Belgrade.
Pat Flynn captained Rovers, with youngster Jack Memery slotting in at left-back. Penalty hero Stephen O’Donnell was given a rare start, along with Gary O’Neill, Karl Sheppard and former College striker Ciaran Kilduff.
Robbie Benson was given the nod by Martin Russell, in for Dean Marshall.
Rovers started brightly as Kilduff beat Michael Leahy to the ball from an O’Donnell crossm but David O’Connor prevented the ball from looping into the net.
Five minutes later McCabe played in on the right side of the penalty area. The former Galway man could only drag a shot wide from a tight angle as pressure built on the Students goal.
UCD broke brilliant shortly afterwards as Graham Rusk travelled from inside his own half to offload to Meenan. The former Sligo Rovers man fed Benson, who shot 15 yards from goal and just wide of the post with Thompson beaten.
As the game approached the 20-minute mark, it remained an open and entertaining affair with both sides enjoying plenty of attacking opportunities and it seemed a goal was beckoning.
McCabe was trying to grow accustomed to an unfamiliar central role in midfield and his clever flick allowed Kilduff to run on and take on the UCD defence.
The striker eyed up the goal and saw his shot blocked by Michael Leahy, with Ger Barron gathering the ball comfortably.
Robbie Creevy blazed a shot wide close to the half hour mark from 25 yards in another notable break by the away side.
McCabe’s whipped in a fine cross in the 32nd minute, with Kilduff or Sives just needing a touch from outside the six-yard box.
Unfortunately for Rovers the ball just evaded the duo and UCD cleared to remain on level terms.
The final stages of the half saw the Hoops showcase wayward shooting that was a long way from the Belgrade wonder strikes.
O’Donnell and Sullivan linked well outside the UCD area only for Sheppard to blaze over.
Referee Tom Connolly then blew for half-time with work to do for O’Neill and the outcome of the tie still up in the air.
The second period began with a spate of chances and Rovers looking to make the breakthrough.
Sives headed over from O’Donnell’s free inside the first minute but then there was a worrying moment for Rovers goalkeeper Ryan Thompson as he struggled to keep out Sean Harding’s deflected effort which went narrowly wide of the post.
Kilduff was enduring a frustration evening and he spurned the best chance of the evening on the hour mark. Belgrade hero Pat Sullivan placed a beautiful pass into the UCD penalty area for Kilduff to run onto, but the finish was poor as the ball rose high and over the bar, much to the annoyance of the home support.
But it was not a long wait for the goal to arrive as a flowing move by the home side saw Finn find Sheppard who advanced towards goal and skipped past Daniel Ledwitch before placing the ball past Barron to give Rovers the lead.
The home side were dominant with Kilduff again threatening from a fine cross by Sives and UCD
It looked as if the home side had sealed their passage to the next round with 20 minutes left.
Not for the first time in the last week, Pat Sullivan connected with the ball beautifully to cross for Ciaran Kilduff to finally find the net with Barron powerless after a fine leap by the striker.
Russell’s side handed themselves a lifeline when the Rovers defence lost concentration in the 74th minute, though largely it was thanks to the quality of the breakaway by the Students.
The classy move by the Students allowed Meenan to time a crisp pass to substitute Samir Belhout and he confidently stroked the ball past Ryan Thompson and reignited the tie in the process.
All of a sudden it was the visitors who were enjoying more of the possession and soon Rovers would shoot themselves in the foot with defending far from the quality witnessed last week in the Europa League.
A long ball forward saw Belhout faced with Sives and Flynn and it seemed like a simple clearance for the Hoops. Sives mis-judged the flight of the ball and Flynn cynically blocked Belhout’s path towards goal. As the last man a red was inevitable for captain on the night Flynn and it offered more believe to Russell’s men.
From the resulting free-kick, which seemed innocuous just on the half-way mark, UCD carved an equaliser as Creevy headed in Meenan’s cross with Rovers still re-grouping from the dismissal.
The Hoops tried to snatch a win as Rice’s effort was blocked from goal by the excellent Creevy and there would be no winner of the night.
The replay next Monday night will add to a packed fixture list for the Premier Division champions, with Monaghan United or Sligo Rovers awaiting in the next round in just under three weeks' time.
Shamrock Rovers: Ryan Thompson, Pat Sullivan, Craig Sives, Pat Flynn, Jack Memery, Gary McCabe (Ronan Finn 58), Stephen Rice, Gary O’Neill (Chris Turner 68), Stephen O’Donnell, Karl Sheppard (Dan Murray 81), Ciaran Kilduff:
Substitutes not used: Richard Brush, Sean Gannon, Gary Twigg, Billy Dennehy
UCD: Ger Barron, Sean Harding, David O’Connor, Michael Leahy, Daniel Ledwith, Paul Corry (Samir Belhout 71), Paul O’Conor, Robbie Creevy, Robbie Benson (Dean Marshall 56), Graham Rusk, Darren Meenan.
Substitutes not used: Thomas Boyle, James Kavanagh, Barry McCabe, Mark McGinley, Stephen Doyle, Samir Belhout,
Referee: T Connolly
