It may have been the fourth successive league game in which they’ve failed to score, but in preventing Sporting from regaining the leadership of the Premier Division table UCD signalled their competence and desire to remain in the top flight.

Indeed, in a game full of chances, Martin Russell’s side might have won it but the Students twice failed to hit the target with decent chances as the first half progressed. From early on, and matching Sporting’s 4-3-3 system, UCD, with Greg Bolger particularly influential, shaded the midfield battle in the first half and might have been in front on eight minutes.

A Paul Corry corner picked out skipper Evan McMillan, but the close-range header lacked direction as it flew straight to goalkeeper Darren Quigley.

Gary O’Neill responded for Sporting, his shot deflected for their first corner minutes later. Then Ronan Finn, who captained UCD to promotion last season, drilled wide when College failed to clear Conan Byrne’s delivery.

Allowed to pass it, UCD opened up Sporting on 21 minutes with Mulhall putting David McMillan in on goal. Quigley rushed off his line to save with his feet on the edge of his box. Mulhall and Ciarán Kilduff then had promising openings as UCD remained the better side.

David McMillan headed wide in the 27th minute and Ciaran Kilduff pulled a shot across goal three minutes later.

Ger O'Brien might have punished the Students in the 33rd minute when he robbed winger David McMillan and broke into the penalty area, but his strike never troubled keeper Billy Brennan and the teams went in level at the break.

Though there was more purpose to Sporting after the break it was UCD who should have been in front on 53 minutes when Brian Shortall’s showed real dynamism to burst through the visitors defence, but he produced a wild strike over the bar.

Another brave block two minutes later from Evan McMillan denied O'Neill after the striker played a clever one-two with O'Brien.

Fingal twice missed decent chances towards the end as O’Neill headed over from Finn’s cross while Eamonn Zayed fired wide as the action zipped from end to end. The ball was in the UCD net on 80 minutes, but the flag had been raised as O’Neill flicked home Shaun Maher’s lob.

Chris Mulhall missed a prime chance to steal it for the Students in the 85th minute when he fired over from close range. It finished nil all as the students held firm and denied Sporting their top spot.

UCD -- Brennan; Shortall, Boyle, E McMillan, Nangle, McMahon (Roche 91), Bolger, Corry, D McMillan (Wilson 77), Kilduff (Rusk 83), Mulhall.

SPORTING FINGAL -- Quigley; O'Brien, Maher, Browne, McFaul, Byrne, Finn, McFaul, Kirby (Williams 83), Zayed (Crowe 60), O'Neill.

Ref -- D Tomney (Dublin).