Mark Dignam's first goal of the season salvaged a precious point for UCD at Tolka Park to keep their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division survival hopes very much alive as they came from behind against FAI Cup finalists Shelbourne.
A first goal for the club from Kameron Ledwidge looked like it might deliver a first win in 11 league games for Shelbourne as they dominated for good spells.
But midfielder Dignam’s fine equaliser means UCD edge three points ahead of bottom side Finn Harps whom they meet in Ballybofey on Friday night.
Shelbourne, with two changes from their draw at Derry City on Friday, started on the front foot and really should have been ahead inside two minutes.
Shane Farrell, on his 100th league game for the club, sent Ledwidge to the end line to cross to the back post. Brian McManus, with the goal all but at his mercy, skied his volley way over the top.
And while Shelbourne continued to enjoy plenty of the ball, both sides struggled for any cohesion in their play, the bumpy pitch scarcely helping.
When they did get their passing going, Shels, missing suspended target man Sean Boyd, lacked a cutting edge up front.
It was the 31st minute before College goalkeeper Kian Moore was worked. Jack Moylan, quiet up till then, came alive to ghost past a couple of defenders and force a save at the foot of Moore's left hand post from Moore.
A slip by College debutant Jamie Duggan gifted the ball to Moylan minutes later. He fed Farrell on the left whose dangerous low ball across goal was cleared by Sam Todd.
There was no such reprieve for the under pressure UCD defence on 41 minutes as Shelbourne got their deserved lead from their third corner of the night.
Farrell's delivery was straight to the edge of the area where defender Ledwidge’s first time volley found the bottom corner, squirming through the grasp of Moore who knows he should have done better.
Having started striker Tommy Lonergan on the bench, his introduction at the break almost brought College level inside six minutes of the restart.
Though Evan Caffrey’s clever dinked ball over the top found the 18-year-old onside, Longeran couldn’t apply the finish as his touch, albeit at a stretch, flew over Brendan Clarke’s crossbar.
It nonetheless raise UCD’s confidence and they were level on 64 minutes.
Skipper Jack Keaney’s ball into the area was killed by Mark Dignam who, availing of a slip by a defender, got turned to rifle a rising shot to the net for a fine finish.
Loud UCD appeals for a penalty, when Longeran appeared to be pulled down, fell on deaf ears 10 minutes later as the visitors chased a winner.
It was Shelbourne who came closest to that, though, Moylan’s shot deflecting into the arms of Moore while JJ Lunney drilled wide in added time.
Shelbourne: Brendan Clarke; Shane Griffin, Luke Byrne, Kameron Ledwidge; John Ross Wilson (Josh Giurgi 74), Brian McManus (Mark Coyle 74), JJ Lunney, Gavin Molloy, Shane Farrell (Dan Carr 79); Jack Moylan, Matty Smith.
UCD: Kian Moore; Jack Keaney, Harvey O’Brien, Sam Todd; Sean Brennan, Evan Caffrey; Jamie Duggan (Michael Gallagher 81), Dara Keane, Alex Nolan (Daniel Higgins 61), Mark Dignam (Evan Osam 81); John Haist (Tommy Lonergan h-t).
Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford).
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