A clash that promised plenty early on will instead be remembered as the night a wheelbarrow saved play.
The Bowl’s sprinkler system developed a mind of its own in the 73rd minute just as UCD were preparing to take a free.
The assistant referee and home bench were drenched first before the arc of the water turned on the players and the playing surface itself .
UCD official Tony Sheridan found a wheelbarrow and, egged on by the crowd, placed it over the offending sprinkler only to see it take flight under the pressure.
And when he came back for a second attempt, holding it firmly in place this time, it set off a chain reaction with a second sprinkler unleashing its pent up fury in comical fashion.
Eight minutes later, a game - that had already gone scrappy after a bright start - resumed and Collie Whelan ought to have finished in a goalmouth scramble.
But the striker - who was coveted by Shelbourne boss Damien Duff in the off-season - couldn’t make a clean connection as the ball bobbled under his feet.
It means College remain in search of their first win of the season while Duff’s got an early glimpse into the often madcap existence in this league.
A weekend rugby match - sandwiched between this clash and Friday’s scoreless draw with Finn Harps - ensured a heavy surface even before the sprinkler deluge
But both sides were keen to try and negotiate it in an end-to-end display.
But while both side’s approach play was initially pretty to watch, neither goalkeeper had a great deal to contend with as final execution was lacking throughout.
Mark Dignam might have turned home Collie Whelan’s low cross at the near post had it not deflected off the foot of a covering defender.
And penalty appeals were waved away when livewire Sean Brennan tumbled under a Mark Coyle challenge.
Dignam then peppered Lewis Webb with the game’s first shot on target before Liam Kerrigan snatched at another effort moments later, dragging the ball wide.
Sean Boyd’s hooked volley was Shels best chance before the break while Jack Moylan’s drive towards the near post was always rising.
But Duff’s men kept running into cul de sacs and the freshness with which they started soon turned stale in the face of a College side superbly led by Jack Keaney.
Moylan remained Shels’ most potent attacking force but couldn’t find the target while Webb snuffed out College sub Dylan Duffy with a good save at the other end.
The waterworks then briefly threatened to derail the match until the wheelbarrow’s tremendous cameo as stalemate prevailed.
UCD: Healy 6; Osam 6, Yoro 7, Todd 7, Ryan 6; Keaney 8; Kerrigan 7, Brennan 7, Verdon 6 (Duffy 64, 6); Dignam 6 (Caffrey 63, 5); Whelan 6.
SHELBOURNE: Webb 7; O'Driscoll 6, Byrne 7, Ledwidge 6; Wilson 6, Coyle 6, McManus 6 (Dervin 63, 5), Kane 7; McEneff 5 (Hawkins 23, 6), Moylan 7 (Farrell 86, 5); Boyd 6 (Anaebonam 63, 5).
Referee: Alan Patchell (Dublin)
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