League of Ireland Premier Division/ St Patrick's Athletic 1 UCD 1:A brilliant late save from Darren Quigley deprived St Patrick's of a win they desperately needed as their title challenge slipped further following their third draw in succession.
Quigley dived full stretch to push out Anthony Murphy's powerful header from a John Frost corner on 86 minutes as John McDonnell's side pounded the UCD goal in search of a winner.
St Patrick's now trail Drogheda by five points with a game more played and face the leaders at United Park on Friday in a game one feels they must win if they are to prevent the Boynesiders from going on to claim their first title.
Trailing to Derek Doyle's first half opener, St Patrick's finally hit back on 67 minutes. Mark Quigley dummied Keith Fahey's ball into the path of Kirby who showed good feet before toeing his shot past goalkeeper Quigley.
McDonnell resisted wholesale changes from the side beaten 5-0 in Odense in the UEFA Cup last Thursday. Nonetheless, Frost started his first game in six weeks at left back while new signing Glen Fitzpatrick came in up front for Mark Quigley.
Despite plenty of possession early on St Patrick's struggled to breakdown the well-marshalled UCD rearguard, with Quigley not having a save to make prior to UCD stealing a 25th minute lead.
Negligent defending was clinically punished as Doyle sprinted on to Brian King's through ball to show excellent composure in shooting past Barry Ryan.
Their best piece of football of the half almost had St Patrick's level nine minutes later. Fitzpatrick showed good awareness to nod down Murphy's cross from the right and Fahey drilled wide off his weaker left foot.
A counterattack from Murphy gifted Fitzpatrick the opportunity of an equaliser 10 minutes into the second half, but he wasted a shooting chance to set-up strike partner Ryan Guy whose drive was blocked by Conor Kenna.
Again, though, Saints almost came on struck from a corner at the other end on the hour.Mahon's delivery was not dealt with and Doyle had a shot before Alan McNally's blistering effort needed a good stop from Ryan.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Brennan (O'Connor, 67 mins), Maguire, Rogers, Frost; Murphy, Gibson, Fahey (Macek, 74 mins.), Kirby; Fitzpatrick, Guy (Quigley, 61 mins.).
UCD: Quigley; Mahon, Kenna, McNally, Bermingham; Fitzgerald, Finn (Hynes, 82 mins), King, McDonnell (Shortall, 74 mins.), Doyle (C. Byrne, 63 mins); Sammon,
Referee: D Hanney(Dublin).
