AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION UCD 1 St Patrick's Athletic 1:DESPITE A much improved performance domestically, a second -half equaliser from Robbie Benson ensured St Patrick's endured yet another disappointing result following European action.
Danny Ledwith and substitute Samir Belhout combined down the left with Benson sweeping home the low cross on 70 minutes to earn UCD an important point in their battle to avoid relegation.
But having dominated for good spells at the UCD Bowl, that’s just two points Liam Buckley’s side has taken from their three games following Europe this season as they continue to slip further behind in the title race.
St Patrick’s carved the first opening, Christy Fagan’s scuffed shot trickling wide of the far post.
Chris Forrester headed over from James Chambers’ delightful cross on 34 minutes. But Forrester showed duly put St Patrick’s ahead in the final minute of the half as he calmly fired home from Greg Bolger’s astute pass.
St Patrick’s goalkeeper Brendan Clarke kept his side in front as he tipped Danny Ledwith’s free kick onto a post and out for a corner.
Mark McGinley excelled at the other end on 68 minutes, touching away Bolger’s sublime chip from all of 40 yards. McGinley also foiled an audacious effort from Forrester on 72 minutes as St Pat’s pressed hard late on for a winner.
UCD: McGinley; Douglas (Kavanagh, 86 mins.), O'Connor, Leahy, Ledwith; McMillan, O'Conor, Corry, Clarke (McNelis, h/t); Benson; Lyons (Belhout, 59 mins.).
ST PAT'S ATH: Clarke; O'Brien, Browne, Carroll, Bermingham; Russell, Chambers, Bolger; O'Connor (J. Kelly, 86 mins.), Fagan (Flood, 64 mins.), Forrester.
Referee: Rob Rogers(Dublin).
