Sligo Rovers' poor form continued as they were held to a draw by UCD at the Showgrounds.
Max Mata had given the Bit O'Red the lead at the break but the determined visitors turned this game on its head with goals from Colm Whelan and Evan Caffrey.
Mata levelled the game with his brace but a toothless Sligo failed to push on and claim what would have been a first win in four.
Following consecutive defeats to Shelbourne and Bohemians, Rovers were keen to return to winning ways against the league’s basement side.
Jordan Hamilton, Sligo’s one change from the Bohs game, found himself on the end of the game’s opening opportunity.
The Canadian’s hesitancy allowed UCD goalkeeper Lorcan Healy time to steady himself before pushing away Hamilton’s drive after he latched on to Mata’s flick.
Liam Buckley’s side had failed to find the net in over 220 minutes in the lead-up to this tie and the relief was palpable around the Showgrounds when the hosts hit the lead.
Mata arrived at the front post to head Karl O’Sullivan’s 23rd-minute corner past Healy for his first goal for the club.
Andy Meyler’s charges levelled the game against the run of play on 57 minutes. Whelan’s shot from the edge of the Sligo area finished off a lethal counter as the striker found the bottom corner.
🎥 | GOAL!
— SSE Airtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) April 9, 2022
What a goal by @FAIreland under-21 Colm Whelan to equalise for UCD AFC
😃
And what a pass by Liam Kerrigan!
"𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒙... 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒙... 𝒏𝒐𝒘!"
Sligo Rovers F.C. 1-1 UCD
Watch live | https://t.co/vfkMjbvRwA 📺 pic.twitter.com/2dQDyCogZK
A combination of both Healy and Evan Osam scrambled Lewis Banks’ side-footer off the Dubliners’ goal-line just past the hour, while Duffy sent an effort whistling past the Sligo post moments later as UCD sent out further warning signs.
Rovers lost Jordan Hamilton to a hamstring strain 16 minutes from time, before things got worse for the hosts.
Sligo sat off Duffy, who was allowed slip the ball into the path of Caffrey, and he was afforded ample time to smash UCD into the lead from close range.
Rovers replied five minutes later. Mata beating Healy to Greg Bolger’s set-piece from inside his own half to nod the ball over the net minder.
Both sides had late chances through Will Fitzgerald and Caffrey but had to settle with a point apiece.
Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lewis Banks, Nando Pijnaker, Garry Buckley, Robbie McCourt (Paddy Kirk, ht); Adam McDonnell (David Cawley, 86), Greg Bolger; Karl O’Sullivan, Will Fitzgerald; Max Mata, Jordan Hamilton (Seamas Keogh, 74).
UCD: Lorcan Healy; Alex Dunne, Sam Todd, Michael Gallagher, Evan Osam; Jack Keaney, Donal Higgins (Sean Brennan, 73); Liam Kerrigan (Adam Lennon, 90), Evan Caffrey, Dylan Duffy (Alex Nolan, 86); Colm Whelan.
Referee: Derek Tomney.
Attendance: 1,865.
