Shamrock Rovers 0 UCD 0:UCD DESERVED more than their point as another frustrating night unfolded for the Shamrock Rovers faithful as they watched their side fail to score for the third time at Tallaght Stadium this season. Booing on the final whistle from many in the 3,500 crowd said it all as Michael O'Neill's side have taken just one point at home this season. Their title challenge is already looking forlorn.

New-signing Thomas Stewart made his Rovers debut but the striker’s rustiness was evident as he sliced over from Billy Dennehy’s cross on five minutes.

UCD carved an opening on 13 minutes when lone striker Ciarán Kilduff bundled his way through with Alan Mannus having to push out the shot for their second corner. Stewart almost made amends for his earlier miss on the half hour, bringing a fine save from Billy Brennan with a good downward header from Seán O’Connor’s cross on the right.

Rovers were better on the resumption and Craig Sives had a header cleared off the line from a corner six minutes in, though it wouldn’t have counted due to a push. But Rovers had a let-off minutes later when they fell asleep at a free-kick. No one tracked the run of central defender Andy Boyle from Greg Bolger’s delivery and his shot was just over the bar.

The game had opened up now and Bolger did well to block a shot inside the UCD box from Graham Barrett. Rovers substitute Ollie Cahill shot over the top before Brennan saved well from James Chambers. UCD might then have won it on 81 minutes when Bolger threaded David McMillan in on goal and Mannus got a hand to the ball to deflect it for a corner.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Chambers, Sives, Murray, Stevens (Murphy, 59 mins); O’Connor (Cahill, 59 mins), Bayly, Rice, Dennehy; Stewart, Barrett (Cowan, 77 mins).

UCD: Brennan; Shortall (Harding, 90 mins), E McMillan, Boyle, Nangle; Rusk, Creevy (Corry, 68 mins), Bolger, McMahon, D. McMillan (Ward, 84 mins); Kilduff.

Referee: Richie Winter (Dublin).