A fine save from Kian Moore, poor finishing and the width of a post denied Shelbourne as they had to settle for a frustrating point at the UCD Bowl.
Goals were always likely to be at a premium as these sides have now managed just eight strikes between them in their 16 matches combined this season.
With Cork City losing in Inchicore, bottom of the table UCD will be content enough as the result sees them edge to within four points of the Leesiders. Shelbourne drop to eighth place on nine points.
With the visitors' starting brightly, Kian Leavy worked space on the right to whip over a low cross that Jack Moylan just couldn’t connect with.
Leavy’s trickery soon got him into a similar position. And though he went to ground under a challenge from UCD left-back Jesse Dempsey, who did look to have put his arm across him, no penalty was forthcoming.
UCD’s first threat didn’t materialise until the 20th minute when Dara Keane stretched Shelbourne on the counter before setting up Ciaran Behan who curled his shot wide.
With the game struggling to spark to life, Shelbourne were no more accurate with another half chance back at the other end on 33 minutes.
Shane Farrell’s corner was cleared to outside the area. Defender Kameron Ledwidge advanced onto it to strike it first time, though it arrowed well off target.
UCD’s Moore was the first goalkeeper to see action two minutes later, positioning himself well to bat away Moylan’s drive after the Shels striker had skilfully skipped inside Adam Wells.
Almost immediately, Shelbourne had a let off. A long ball bounced through for the run of Danu Kinsella-Bishop who got behind Reds’ skipper Luke Byrne only to lob his effort over the top.
Doubtless with some choice words from head coach Damien Duff ringing in their ears, Shelbourne had a bit more about them from the resumption and might have been ahead four minutes in.
Leavy’s arced ball into the area wasn't cleared. Moylan showed clever feet to get turned and was livid with himself after volleying wide.
The frame of their goal then rescued UCD on 54 minutes as Tyreke Wilson’ free kick came back off a post after JJ Lunney was fouled by Mark Dignam.
That impetus faded as UCD played their way back into the game to continue to frustrate Shelbourne and their fans.
And as their anxiety grew, it was UCD who finished the stronger.
Keane had a run on goal which brought promise before substitute Jake Doyle fouled as he tried to get his shot away.
Behan then whipped a free kick over the defensive wall though he lacked the accuracy or power to trouble Conor Kearns.
UCD: Kian Moore; Brendan Barr, Jack Keaney, Adam Wells, Jesse Dempsey; Ciaran Behan, Donal Higgins, Mark Dignam, Alex Nolan (Danny Norris 79); Dara Keane; Danu Kinsella-Bishop (Jake Doyle 74).
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Gavin Molloy (Andrew Quinn 68), Luke Byrne, Kameron Ledwidge; Shane Farrell (Jad Hakiki 78), JJ Lunney (Mark Coyle 68), Evan Caffrey, Tyreke Wilson (John Ross Wilson 61); Kian Leavy, Matty Smith (Kyle Robinson 61), Jack Moylan.
Referee: Eoghan O’Shea (Tipperary).
