UCD 1 Shelbourne 1:UCD AND Shelbourne cancelled each other out in a highly entertaining end of the season encounter at a freezing Belfield Bowl last night.

Shelbourne had the perfect start when grabbing the lead on three minutes when a low cross from the right by Kevin Dawson was fired home from 12 yards by the alert David Cassidy giving ’keeper Ger Barron no chance.

But College were level on 21 minutes when unmarked defender Hugh Douglas soared above the Shels defence to power home a header from close range after a corner by Chris Mulhall.

Lorcan Fitzgerald was yellow carded by FAI Cup final referee Neil Doyle after a midfield clash with Douglas on 31 minutes with the Shelbourne man then being stretchered off the pitch.

The Tolka Park men went close to again taking the lead in the third minute of first half added time when Philip Hughes had a 20 yard effort pushed round the post by Barron.

Shelbourne had another chance on 54 minutes when a David Cassidy cross from the right was missed by Barron with Douglas almost heading into his own net, only for the ’keeper to recover and scoop the ball off the goal-line.

Then Conan Byrne then had a surging run from midfield only for his effort from the edge of the box to fly narrowly wide of the target.

Again Byrne was off target with a chip shot after Dawson had created the opening.

Cassidy and Kavanagh had late chances for the visitors, but College held on for a deserved share of the spoils.

UCD: Barron; Douglas, Leahy, Kavanagh (Langtry 45), Nangle; Clarke, O'Conor, Benson, Burke (McCabe 64), Mulhall; McMillan (Lyons 75).

SHELBOURNE: Bennion; Hurley (Gorman 90), Boyle, Paisley, Fitzgerald (Clancy 31); C Byrne, Cassidy, Cronin, Dawson, Kavanagh; Hughes.

Referee: Neil Doyle(Dublin).