UCD and St Patrick's Athletic shared the spoils in this lively encounter at Belfield yesterday with a goal in each half dividing the points. Over the 90 minutes the home side had the better chances but were let down by some poor finishing.
The opening goal was a sloppy affair with Robert McAuley failing to clear his lines after he had come under pressure from striker Liam Kelly. The central defender then slipped inside the box and with Ger McCarthy about to pounce McAuley handled. Referee John McDermott had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and up stepped former UCD midfielder, Robert Griffin to tuck away the resultant penalty.
The visitors came close to increasing their lead shortly afterwards with Michael O'Donnell heading off the line from a Paul Burns free.
Although getting plenty of players behind the ball St Patrick's Athletic had to contend with UCD striker Kevin Grogan who gave them plenty of problems throughout. He was involved twice in the first-half with Aidan Lynch firing over after Pat's keeper Seamus Kelly had only half cleared. Moments later Grogan played in Eoin Bennis but Kelly was alert to the danger.
There was no let-up from UCD after the break with O'Donnell finishing disappointingly from Alan Mahon's cross while Clive Delaney was just inches away from to a ball played in by Bennis.
But UCD finally drew level on 69 minutes when Bennis was released following a flick on by Ciaran Cavanagh and he duly rolled the ball passed Kelly to the back of the net.
UCD: Ryan; Mahon, McAuley, Delaney, McLaughlin; O'Donnell, Lynch, Kavanagh, Martyn; Bennis, McGrogan.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: S Kelly; Croly, Foley, Maguire, K Doyle; Byrne, Griffin, Osam, G Doyle; L Kelly, McCarthy. Subs: McLevin for G Doyle (60 mins), R McGuinness for Osam (81 mins), Harris for Byrne (81 mins).
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)