TWO aerial strikes from Ian Gilzean salvaged a point for the champions in this Premier Division encounter at Belfield last night.
Five yellow cards were handed out by Dublin referee Gerry Perry; while St Patrick's midfielder, Shane Harte, was an unlucky victim of a tackle towards the end and was stretchered off the pitch, with 15 minutes to go.
St Patrick's, for a while, looked in danger of flunking to their second consecutive defeat after Brian Mooney had put the students back in front with a deflected shot from 25 yards out, on 74 minutes.
But Gilzean came to the visitors' rescue when he rose to head home his second of the night following a free on the left from Martin Russell.
It was a disappointing end for UCD, who looked impressive in midfield with Mooney, making his home debut, adding extra impetus.
It was the high ball that unhinged St Patrick's after 40 minutes.
From an Eoin Benis cross, Mick O'Byrne went up with keeper, Trevor Wood, and he managed to punch the ball out.
But it then arrived to Ciaran Martyn, whose looping header left the keeper stranded.
St Patrick's opener, 11 minutes beforehand, was equally direct in approach, which saw Gilzean find the net with a downward header after Trevor Crolly had picked him out with a well flighted cross.
UCD: Ryan, McDonnell, Lynch, Delaney, Mahon, Mooney, Kavanagh, Martyn, Bennis, O'Byrne, Hanrahan.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Woods, Lynch, Hawkins, McGuinness, Croly, Harte, Morgan, Russell, Doyle, Gilzean, Molloy. Subs: Byrne for McGuinness (half time); McNevin for Harte (75 mins); McCarthy for Molloy (84 mins). Referee: G Perry (Dublin).
