Drogheda United earned a scarcely deserved replay in their FAI Cup tie against UCD at United Park last night. The game was scoreless at the break with College taking a deserved lead nine minutes into the second half only to be pulled back with a late Drogheda equaliser two minutes from the end.

The visitors should have taken the lead as early as the ninth minute when from a poor Jason Lowney clearance, Ciaran Martyn found space on the edge of the Drogheda box but he pulled his shot over the bar. Ten minutes later it was UCD who threatened once more when a Robert Martin shot from 20 yards was turned round the post by Lowney. With 25 minutes gone Martin almost broke the deadlock when he was narrowly shot wide from close range once more.

The second half was barely two minutes old when Robert Martin shot straight into the arms of Lowney when it seemed easier to score.

UCD deservedly grabbed the lead on 54 minutes when Alan McNally picked the ball up just inside the box to shoot home. It should have been 2-0 to the visitors just beyond the hour mark when Ciaran Martyn's 18-yard effort came back off the Drogheda post.

With two minutes remaining Declan O'Brien broke into the UCD box and squared for Gary Cummins to shoot to the net. So its back to Belfield on Tuesday evening where they must do it all over again.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Lowney, Bradley, B Kelly, Mullen, Gollogley, Cronin, Dodd, Quinless, Gallagher, O'Brien, D Kelly. Subs: Cummins for Dodd (60 mins), Coyle for D Kelly (75 mins), Smyth for Gollogley (80 mins).

UCD: B Ryan, Keating, D Ryan, Doolin, Delaney, McAuley, J Martin, C Martyn, R Martin, McNally, O'Donnell.

Referee: I Stokes (Dublin)