A fifth league draw on the trot saw UCD's unbeaten record stretch to ten games, coming from behind to seal a point for the third home game running.
As expected, there were no changes from the side which drew in Galway, while Derry had a change in manager as Peter Hutton took over the side for the first time in his second spell as caretaker.
As so often happens in the wake of a managerial departure, Derry were a rejuvenated side compared to the one which lost to the Students in Derry just five weeks ago. And they deserved their lead when it came after only 14 minutes - a loose ball in midfield was seized on by Kevin McHugh, who sent a rasping drive in off the post in a near replica of Mark Quigley's goal at about the same time against St Pat's in the last home game.
It coule well have been 2-0 just minutes later when Gareth McGlynn got in past the defence on the left, but he clipped his shot inches wide of the far post.
However, UCD started to come into the game after that, with Conan Byrne in particular getting plenty of joy against Dave Rogers, and it was frmo the winger that UCD's two best chances of the half came. First, Byrne skipped past Rogers, along the by-line and squared to Paul Byrne, ten yards out, but his snap shot was straight at former UCD keeper Pat Jennings in the Derry goal. And shortly after the half hour, an Alan Mahon run took Rogers out of the game entirely, allowing Byrne space to send in a superb curling drive which was destined for the top corner before Jennings intervened to tip over.
UCD had other chances too - Paul Byrne just failed to connect with a Conor Sammon cross-cum-shot, while Sammon set up Derek Doyle for a shot from 25 yards, but the winger scuffed his effort wide. Derry's only real chance in the same period was an ambitious overhead attempt from McHugh, but it was no more than the Students deserved when they equalised right on the stroke of half-time. A free from half-way was sent into the box, McFaul flicked on and Alan McNally found himself in acres of space ten yards out to steer past Jennings.
The goalscorer's game wasn't to last much longer, as he came off four minuetes after the break, replaced by the returning Brian Shortall. And it was Derry who took control of the game, although they were largely limited to long range efforts. McHugh in particular was impressive, sending a curling shot just wide on 62 before going closer still a few minutes later as his shot from 25 yards came back off the post; McGlynn, presumably taken by surprise, tapped the rebound wide of an empty net. A couple of minutes later, a slip by Shortall let Derry in again, but again the College defence regrouped and Derry could only get in a shot from distance which went wide.
UCD did get back into the game to some extent as it went on - Conan Byrne's shot from the edge of the area was deflected just wide, while from the resulting corner, Paul Crowley headed wide when unmarked at the back post. Ian Bermingham then burst forward from defence to go past two Derry players and send in a half-volley from 25 yards which Jennings held comfortably.
In the end, Derry couldn't muster a winner, and UCD held on fairly comfortably to the point.
UCD - Gregg; Mahon, Bermingham, Kenna, McNally (Shortall 49); Crowley, Doyle (Purcell 82), C Byrne, McFaul; Sammon, P Byrne (Forsyth 90). Subs not used - Quigley, McMillan.
Att - 520
