Sam Todd used his head at both ends of the pitch to salvage a deserved point for UCD as Bohemians failed to build on some early promise.
The last time these sides met in the league Bohemians ran out a staggering 10-1 winners at Dalymount Park in August 2019, a record league win for them and defeat for College, though there was never going to be anything like a repeat at the UCD Bowl.
On the front foot from the first whistle, Bohemians laid virtual siege to the home goal early on.
And they were deservedly in four on six minutes, if from a goalkeeping howler.
College netminder Lorcan Healy appeared to have gathered a Stephen Mallon cross into his area, but inexplicably spilled it as he went to ground.
Showing a poacher's instinct, Promise Omochere gleefully blasted the loose ball into the roof of the net for his third goal of the season.
UCD recovered and but for good goalkeeping, and some frantic defending, they would, and should, have levelled on 15 minutes.
Sean Brennan and Dylan Duffy combined to play Collie Whelan through on goal from halfway.
James Talbot stood up brilliantly to save Whelan’s initial drive with his feet.
The rebound came back to Whelan whose follow-up was blocked by the retreating Ali Coote before the Ireland under-21 international wastefully blazed a third effort over the crossbar.
Within a minute, in what was an open game now, Bohs were inches from doubling their lead when Dawson Devoy’s crisp drive from outside the area cannoned back off the butt of Healy’s right hand post.
With Bohs a trifle loose at the back, Liam Kerrigan skipped past both Jordan Flores and then Ciaran Kelly a little too easily. Donal Higgins couldn’t get any venom into his shot from Kerrigan’s cross which was cleared.
Though Bohemians forced four corners in the opening minutes of the second half, it was Talbot who was worked first on the resumption.
The Gypsies’ keeper first got down well to hold a drive from Kerrigan before rushing to the edge of his box to save with his feet from Whelan, who got in on goal from a long clearance.
The defending was equally frenzied back at the other end on 56 minutes, towering central defender Todd heading off the line from the Mallon’s bouncing header after Kris Twardek got free on the right to cross.
Healy then made amends for his first-half gaffe with a terrific save down to his right to push Substitute Liam Burt’s low shot round a post.
After Bohemians had done nothing from seven corners since the restart, UCD equalised from their first on 67 minutes.
Kerrigan floated the delivery to the back post where Todd rose majestically to power a downward head to the corner of the net.
As their fans' frustration mounted, Bohemians pressed late on in search of a winner.
Omochere was close to finishing as he started when diving to get his head to a Flores free kick to see it flash agonisingly wide.
Talbot then produced the save of the game to deny UCD a winner on 88 minutes.
Whelan pounced on a loose ball to get a run on goal only to be foiled again by Talbot diving low to his left to push the shot away for a corner.
UCD: Lorcan Healy; Alex Dunne, Eric Yoro, Sam Todd, Evan Osam; Jack Keaney; Liam Kerrigan, Sean Brennan (Sam Verdon 70), Donal Higgins (Evan Caffrey 70), Dylan Duffy (Adam Lennon 84); Colm Whelan.
Bohemians: James Talbot; Sam Packham (Tyreke Wilson h-t), Grant Horton, Ciaran Kelly, Max Murphy; Dawson Devoy (Jordan Doherty 73), Jordan Flores; Kris Twardek, Ali Coote (Liam Burt 61), Stephen Mallon (Ryan Cassidy 78); Promise Omochere.
Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford).
