The result did little to help either team at Turners Cross yesterday. However, UCD probably had more to gain as a result of this exciting 2-2 draw, as they picked up a point in their fight to survive in the Premier Division.

In contrast, two points dropped at home did little for Cork's pursuit of European football next season via the intertoto cup. Pat Jennings, the son of the legendary Northern Ireland goalkeeper, proved to be the hero for the students on what was his league debut.

Twice in the second half, the sports management student at Belfield, pulled off fine saves to deny Pat Morley and Derek Coughlan goals, and the upright came to his rescue in the last minute.

Pat Morley's last minute header from Ollie Cahill's cross came back off the post in the final minute, but there was more excitement in added time as the teams produced two more goals.

Derek Swan gave UCD a shock lead when he scored from a penalty after 15 minutes when Coughlan pushed Eoin Bennis in the back. Seconds later, it was 1-1 when James Mulligan scored his fifth league goal of the season with a glancing header from John Caulfield's cross.

Jennings came to his side's rescue with those vital saves in the second half, before Cork grabbed the lead with Morley's 180th career goal, when his farpost header from Cahill's cross beat Jennings in the 91st minute.

But, once again, it was a short-lived lead as Bennis made it 2-2 when he turned in Alan Mahon's cross in the 93rd minute.

CORK CITY: Devine; Carey, Coughlan, Daly, Horgan; Caulfield (O'Brien 68 mins), Flanagan, Buckley (Herrick 80 mins), Cahill; Mulligan (Morley 64 mins), Hartigan.

UCD: Jennings; Mahon, Delaney, McAauley, McLoughlin; Martin, Kavanagh, Martyn, O'Meara (Mooney 46 mins); Swan (O'Connor 85 mins), Bennis.

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).