UCD ended a dismal run of seven league defeats in a row to ease their relegation worries when picking up a vital point against Derry City at the Belfield Bowl.

Derry had an early chance when striker Eamon Zayed set up a chance for winger Gareth McGlynn on the right only to see his effort brilliantly blocked by College 'keeper Ger Barron.

Then the Students cause problems when striker Graham Rusk found winger Dean Marshall on the right. His dangerous high cross was pushed over the bar by alert Derry 'keeper Ger Doherty.

McGlynn twice went close again for the visitors before Rusk had a shot blocked by a wall of Derry defenders after Robbie Benson had set up the chance. Midfielder Paul Corry then went close for College when his 22 yard free dipped just over the bar.

A James McClean cross from the left nearly led to Derry breaking the deadlock on 37 minutes - but Zayed at full stretch just missed the chance of applying the vital finishing touch. Then a perfect cross from the right by McGlynn again found the unmarked Zayed only for his header from 10 yards to sail inches wide of the upright.

Derry were to regret those missed chances when the Students grabbed the lead in the first minute of added time in the first half. A cross from the left by Corry was missed by the Derry defence and Marshall cleverly took control of the ball to fire past Doherty from 16 yards.     

College again looked dangerous early in the second half when Corry burst out of defence to set up a chance for Rusk, only for the striker's long-range effort to be well saved by the diving Doherty.

But it was Derry who were level on 65 minutes when after constant pressure defender Danny Lafferty headed home after a cross by Ruaidhri Higgins cross from the left.

UCD's reaction was immediate when right from the re-start, Rusk charged straight upfield and fired home a shot from the edge of the box that will have given 'keeper Doherty nightmares as he fumbled the effort over the line.

Derry refused to lie down and were level again on 83 minutes when a corner by McClean on the right allowed Scotsman Stewart Greacen to get in a diving header past Barron.  Then late on, the visitors had a let-off when winger Darragh Meenan had a shot which rebounded off the upright with Doherty beaten.

UCD: Barron; Harding, D.O'Connor, Leahy, Nangle; Marshall  (Russell 88), Corry, P.O'Conor, Benson (Ledwith 71) , Meenan; Rusk (Belhout 82).  

DERRY CITY: Doherty, McCallion (McLaughlin 82), Greacen, S.McEleney, Lafferty; McGlynn, Deery (Harkin 43), Higgins, McClean; P.McEleney (McDaid 72), Zayed.

REFEREE: P Tuite (Dublin).