A late Jake Doyle strike rescued a point for UCD as they gave their Premier Division survival hopes a shot in the arm while Bohemians saw their lead at the summit cut to three points.
Jonathan Afolabi had given Bohemians a second half lead, but they were made pay for their sluggish display as Doyle finished neatly late on to clinch a precious share of the spoils and kick off his 18th birthday celebrations in style.
Although they were visitors, this was very much a home game for Bohs who were backed by a packed away following. They started quickly and Dean Williams was denied by Kian Moore after a quick swivel and shot in the third minute and the UCD keeper was on hand to produce a point-blank stop from the resulting corner.
While the dry and sandy pitch didn't lend itself to fluid football, UCD were more than comfortable for the remainder of the first half with the ponderous Bohemians midfield often passing square or backwards much to the frustration of Declan Devine.
The Students fashioned a few moments for themselves although a wild Mark Dignam effort from the D was the best they could throw at James Talbot's goal in what was a turgid opening half.
Things didn’t get any easier for the league leaders and they were fortunate not to fall behind just after the break. Brendan Barr tricked his way inside Paddy Kirk but from close range he hesitated and his shot was eventually blocked in a huge wake up call for the visitors.
They responded promptly as three minutes later Dylan Connolly went rampaging down the right wing and his cross found Declan McDaid who laid the ball off for Afolabi to slam home his second goal of the season.
Goals have been hard to come by for the ever-industrious Afolabi and the former Celtic man spurned a great chance to double the lead heading into the last third of the game.
The Bohs number nine went close with ten minutes to go but they never truly looked in control of proceedings in the closing stages.
Andy Myler’s side have lost a wealth of attacking talent over the last 12 months with Liam Kerrigan, Colm Whelan, Dylan Duffy and Tommy Lonergan all moving on from Belfield and it looked like such a dearth of talent was going to result in their eighth blank of the campaign.
However, the ghost of last season’s 1-1 draw at the Bowl came back to haunt the leaders as substitute Doyle rescued a priceless point for UCD to bring them within three points of Cork City.
UCD: Kian Moore; Brendan Barr, Jesse Dempsey, Mark Dignam (Michael Gallagher 41), Adam Wells; Sami Clarke (Jake Doyle 60), Donal Higgins (Divine Izekor 76), Jack Keaney, Daniel Norris; Danu Kinsella Bishop (Ciaran Behan 46), Alex Nolan.
Bohemians: James Talbot; Grant Horton, Patrick Kirk, Krystian Nowak, Kacper Radkowski; Adam McDonnell (James Clarke 61), James McManus (Keith Buckley 46), John O'Sullivan (Jonathan Afolabi 46); Dylan Connolly, Declan McDaid (Kris Twardek 61), Dean Williams.
