Derry City - 1 UCD - 1: Two of the bottom three cancelled each other out in the second half at Belfield Park last night as UCD seemed too eager to hold onto their sixth point of the season and visitors Derry were content to net their second point from five visits to the capital in 2003.
Both sides started slowly. Midfielder Alan Cawley had the game's first real chance in the sixth minute, but poked his shot over from a right-sided free kick.
Derry striker Liam Coyle blazed wide on 10 minutes, after linking well with former UCD favourite Ciaran Martyn.
Lacking the presence of Mick O'Donnell, UCD were cut open through the centre of midfield on 26 minutes. A ball over the top from Padraig Moran looked to have allowed Coyle open the scoring - he did find Patrick Jennings's net, but had his effort ruled out for offside.
UCD took the lead against the run of play when Cawley, returning to the Belfield side following a one-match suspension, saw his 25-yard free kick flick off the edge of the Derry wall and loop past the wrong-footed David Forde.
Coyle was central to the equaliser just after the half hour. Two phases from the resumption of Cawley's strike, Peter Hutton released Gary Beckett down the right flank. His cross over the head of centre back Ben Savage gave Coyle acres of space to plant his header beyond the outstretched right arm of Jennings.
The second period offered little in excitement though much in endeavour. Patrick McWalter edged a shot wide of David Forde's right post on 57 minutes.
Kevin Deery saw a sight of goal in the last 10 minutes, but drove his shot straight at Jennings, the last chance of note in a scrappy second 45.
