UCD 0 Shamrock Rovers 0: Newly promoted UCD wasted a glorious chance to record only their third win of the season as they squandered a host of chances to see off a desperately disappointing Shamrock Rovers at Belfield Park last night.
College dominated the 90 minutes but wasted a series of clear-cut openings.
With just five goals in their previous 10 games, it was that old failure to convert their chances that cost the Students dearly.
Darren Quigley, in the home goal, did not have a shot to deal with until the 89th minute, when he easily collected a tame header by Jason Gavin.
UCD went close as early as the first minute when a cross from Mick O'Donnell on the left was headed back across the face of goal only for midfielder Tony McDonnell to head over.
Rovers then had a huge let-off on five minutes when a long clearance by Quigley was headed on by teenage striker Paul Byrne into the path of Pat McWalter. But with only Barry Murphy to beat, he lobbed the ball wide.
It was all one-way traffic in the direction of the Hoops goal, with Robbie Martin, Byrne and McDonnell missing easy chances in quick succession.
Rovers hopes received a set-back on 27 minutes when top scorer Pat McCourt had to hobble off with a thigh injury to be replaced by Dave Mooney.
The Students continued to hold the upper hand when Gary Dicker supplied a clever pass for Martin to send over a powerful low cross from the left which just eluded the outstretched foot of McWalter.
Byrne then headed over from close range after O'Donnell's cross was flicked back into the striker's path by Stephen Hurley with the Rovers goal living a charmed life.
Even the introduction of striker Lee Feeney for Bernard Daniels and skipper Trevor Molloy switching to the right wing failed to spark Rovers to life.
UCD: Quigley; Lynch (Shortall, 15 mins), Kenna, McNally, O'Donnell; Hurley, T McDonnell, Dicker, McWalter (A Murphy, 80 mins), Byrne (Dupuy, 72 mins), Martin.
Shamrock Rovers: B Murphy; Gavin, McGuinness, K Doyle; Daniels (Feeney, 55 mins), O'Halloran, McDonagh, G McDonnell, Rutherford, Molloy, McCourt (Mooney, 27 mins).
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin)
