Ucd (0) - St Patrick's Athletic (0)

Match Report

UCD 0 - St Patrick's Athletic 0

Dublin rivals UCD and St.Patrick's Athletic each recorded their ninth eircom League draw of the season as they fought out a scoreless encounter in the Premier Division clash at Belfield Park.

The Saints threatened after just three minutes when a header by skipper Colm Foley was headed just wide of the far upright after a precision corner on the right by midfielder Mark Quigley.

Veteran winger Mark Rutherford almost broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when collecting a long ball in midfield, he then sprinted forward only to see his 25 yard effort brilliantly pushed round the post by College 'keeper Darren Quigley.

The Students had a real let-off five minutes before the interval when Mark Rooney found Rutherford on the left. Keeper Quigley then missed the resulting high cross only for David Mulcahy to shoot inches wide of the target at the far post when a goal looked on the cards.

The Inchicore team's defence was at last tested on 46 minutes when defender Alan Mahon and always industrious striker Conor Sammon combined nicely on the right to set up a chance for Gary Dicker. But the Irish Under 21 international midfielder shot left-footed wide of the target from the edge of the box.

But it was St.Pat's who were quickly back on the offensive after a needless Dicker foul on winger Anto Murphy. The resulting free from 25 yards by Keith Fahey was brilliantly pushed over by the alert Quigley.

Defender Conor Kenna then fired over from long range for College as both teams threw everything into attack in a vain bid to break the deadlock. But it was one of those nights when defences ruled the roost with neither side able to apply the vital finishing touch.

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