UCD battle back for a share of the spoils with Treaty United

UCD and Treaty were forced to share the spoils of war in a tight, cagey affair at The Bowl.

The 10-men of UCD had man-of-the-match Eanna Clancy to thank for rescuing a point as his second half header drew an entertaining contest level as his side trailed to Mark Byrne's first half strike for the visitors.

The promotion hopefuls' stuttering form in recent weeks had seen them drop to third sitting a point behind Athlone Town who, gratefully took their place behind runaway leaders Cork City, following their win over the Students a week previous.

After a tense opening period, it was the home side who seemingly looked in control, enjoying the better possession and looking a real threat down the right-hand side through the marauding Alex Dunne and tricky Mikey McCullagh.

But the visitors, who enjoyed a narrow 1-0 win in South Dublin earlier in the season, grew into the game and carried the greater threat when getting forward.

It took until just after the half hour mark for the game to spring to life.

Steven Healy played a delicious defence splitting through ball to find wideman Thomas Considine, who broke the offside trap and found himself clear one-on-one.

The left winger was quickly faced by the onrushing Kian Moore and tried a delicate dink over the keeper but saw his effort cleared.

Moments later Mark Byrne did break the deadlock for United taking advantage of some sloppy play at the back from UCD, in which nobody - including Moore - seemed to take command of the loose ball, allowing Byrne to pick it up and roll home into an empty net.

Following what must have been a half time dressing down, the hosts piled on the pressure in search of the equaliser. Both McCullagh and Sam Verdon were desperately unlucky to see their efforts from