AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Shamrock Rovers 2 UCD 2:PAUL O'CONOR snatched a point for UCD in injury time at Tallaght Stadium. Rovers had dominated for long periods of this game and first half goals from Billy Dennehy and Daryl Kavanagh had put them in control.

Graham Rusk put UCD back in contention from the penalty spot on 59 minutes before O’Conor fired past Rovers goalkeeper Oskar Jansson from the right of the box in added time.

Rovers went ahead on five minutes when Dennehy struck a beautiful low free-kick which beat UCD goalkeeper Mark McGinley at his right hand post. McGinley then prevented Rovers from doubling the lead just two minutes later with a fine save from Chris Turner who made the most of a good pass from Kavanagh.

Rovers threatened again on 29 minutes when slack UCD defending allowed Turner to run through the middle and find Gary Twigg on the right of the box. Twigg in turn sent the ball across the face of goal but the inrushing Kavanagh arrived too late at the far post to connect.

UCD found it very hard to break down a very strong Rovers back four and the half-hour mark passed before the visitors had a decent strike on goal. That came from Daniel Ledwith just inside the box on the left but his effort failed to trouble Jansson in the Rovers goal.

Kavanagh in particular was having an excellent night and deservedly got on the score sheet on 39 minutes. He took possession on the left of the UCD box and curled a terrific shot past McGinley and into the far corner to put Rovers firmly in control.

UCD came out a much improved side for the second half and Paul Corry hit the woodwork on 47 minutes but Ledwith should have done better with his free on 50 minutes, which he hammered high over the bar.

Twigg had the ball in the UCD net on 56 minutes when he followed up after McGinley had made a good save from Turner but the striker was ruled offside.

UCD were back in the game on 59 minutes when Rusk scored from the penalty spot after Ledwith was taken down in the box by Conor McCormack. With the lead halved and UCD looking more of a threat, Rovers’ manager Stephen Kenny freshened things up by withdrawing Kavanagh and replacing him with Killian Brennan. A move that drew booing from a large section of home support.

Rovers looked like holding on for the win but O’Conor popped up in injury time with a fine finish past Jansson into the far corner to steal a point for UCD and cue more boos from the home fans.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Jansson; Powell, Gartland, Sives, McCormack (Gilbert, 81 mins); Dennehy (Greene, 73 mins), Rice, Turner, McCabe; Kavanagh (Brennan, 62 mins), Twigg.

UCD: McGinley; Ledwith, OConnor, Leahy, Douglas; Langtry, Benson (Belhout half-time), Corry, O'Conor, Rusk; Lyons (Morrison, 84 mins).

Referee: D McKeon(Dublin).