UCD brought Shamrock Rovers back to earth with a bang at Tallaght Stadium with a heroic comeback to force a replay against the Hoops.

 

Having conceded 15 goals in their last three meetings with the league champions, the Students looked dead and buried when 2-0 down thanks to second half strikes from Karl Sheppard and Ciaran Kilduff.

But the home faithful didn’t account for some Cup magic as substitute Samir Belhout pulled one back, his pace caused Pat Flynn to foul him and see red and then Robbie Creevy scored the most unlikely of equalisers. It’s back to Belfield next Monday.

The Hoops, returning from their Europa League heroics were much changed from Belgrade but still named a team designed to attack. Kilduff led the line with Sheppard and Gary O’Neill in support and early on it looked like they might cause significant damage.

David O’Connor had to be alert to clear former UCD man Kilduff’s header off the line after Ger Barron was beaten to Stephen O’Donnell’s ball.

But UCD signalled their own intent when man of the match Darren Meenan created a brilliant chance for Robbie Benson, but he fired just wide with Ryan Thompson beaten.

Kilduff and Sheppard went close with shots, before Kilduff couldn’t take advantage of a cross from the excellent Pat Sullivan and the students made it into the break level.

They almost took the lead when Sean Harding’s shot spun off Craig Sives and went just wide, but it was to be all Rovers for next half an hour with Gary McCabe stinging the hands of Barron and Kilduff firing over.

The expected breakthrough came through Sheppard who latched on to Sullivan’s ball and he stayed cool to beat Barron. Kilduff doubled the lead minutes later, Sullivan crossing again for the striker to head home.

Job should have been done, but nobody told Belhout as the striker burst on to Meenan’s through ball and gave Thompson no chance.

He then robbed Sives of possession but was bundled over by Flynn who was the last man. Tom Connolly reached for red and then Meenan crossed for Creevy to head home.

Tallaght was stunned and although Ronan Finn and Stephen Rice went close, it wasn’t to be.

SHAMROCK ROVERS – Thompson; Sullivan, Flynn, Sives, Memery; McCabe (Finn 56), Rice, O’Donnell; Sheppard (Murray 82), O’Neill (Turner 68), Kilduff.

UCD – Barron; Harding, O’Connor, Leahy, Ledwith; O’Conor, Corry (Belhout 71), Creevy, Benson (Marshall 56), Meenan;  Rusk.

REFEREE – T Connolly (Dublin).