Whelan on song as UCD battle back for share of the spoils

An inspired Colm Whelan hit a brace as UCD battled back from two goals down against 10-man Dundalk to earn a fully deserved share of the spoils in this thriller at the UCD Bowl.

Though it's just one defeat now seven games, Dundalk drop to fourth place in the table as they still await a first away victory of the season.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

While the result ended a run of four straight defeats for UCD, they remain five points adrift at the foot of the table.

With Brian Gartland in for the suspended Mark Connolly their only change, Dundalk had six ex-UCD players in their match day squad, four of whom started.

Among five changes for UCD, skipper Jack Keaney returned for his first start in five games following a hand injury, along with teenagers, goalkeeper Kian Moore and defender Eric Yoro.

The game kicked off on a near perfect spring evening as the visitors survived a right scare on three minutes whenLilies’ goalkeeper Nathan Shepperd fumbled the ball as he tried to gather following a Liam Kerrigan free kick.

The alert Whelan was quickly onto it to cleverly chip goal-ward with Darragh Leahy clearing off the line with a diving header.

Dundalk hit back with Patrick Hoban working Moore with a low drive from distance before the striker glanced a header past a post from Leahy’s arced cross.

Hoban was then instrumental in Dundalk taking the lead on 18 minutes, tenaciously winning a corner having dispossessed a sluggish Michael Gallagher.

And though Keith Ward’s delivery was headed away, it dropped for Paul Doyle - who scored twice in UCD’s promotion play-off games last year - to drill a deflected shot to the net.

A set-piece at the other end on 40 minutes wasn’t far off bringing the hosts an equaliser.

Kerrigan’s free kick from the left was