Memories of Neale Fenn were banished at Oriel Park on Friday night as his replacement Matthew Tipton struck to secure Dundalk a crucial point against a stubborn UCD side.

 

Tipton struck with the game deep in first-half stoppage time. Stephen McDonnell's cross from the left was only half cleared by the UCD defence and the former Macclesfield striker fired a left footed effort on the turn into the bottom corner.

 

The new Dundalk number 10 had earlier served notice of his danger when in the 11^th minute he looped a header against Gerard Barron's crossbar. Faz Kuduzovic then blasted over after being teed up by new signing Dean Bennett.

 

UCD squandered a great chance to open the scoring in the 19^th minute when Ciaran Kilduff blazed over after a slack Kuduzovic pass fell kindly into his path. 10 minutes later Dundalk weren't as lucky. Chris Mulhall picked up possession on the left and, after some neat footwork, his scuffed effort found the net with the aid of a deflection from Simon Madden.

 

Dundalk opened the second-half with intent and Tipton did brilliantly to set up new signing Daniel Kearns in the 48^th minute but the Irish underage star completely missed his kick. UCD then had goalkeeper Gerard Barron to thank for making a great save to deny Shaun Kelly's deflected effort in the 64^th minute.

 

The Students rarely threatened in the opening 30 minutes of the second-half but they came alive with two chances in quick succession. Mulhall again had alarm bells ringing when he cut in from the left but Kilduff could only fire his cross wide of goal. Substitute Stephen Roche then found himself through on the right but Cherrie was equal to the task.

 

Dundalk: Cherrie; Madden, McGuigan, Hatswell, Kelly; McDonnell, Bennett, Miller; Kearns (Gaynor 81); Kuduzovic (J Breen 85), Tipton.

 

UCD: Barron; O'Connor, Boyle, E McMillan, Nangle; Bolger, Corey (Rusk 6), Creevy; Wilson (Roche 67), Kilduff, Mulhall.

 

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).