UCD 0 Galway United 1:DEREK GLYNN scored his first goal of the season to give Galway their first win of the campaign as their resurgence under Jeff Kenna continues.
Winger Derek O'Brien passed a late fitness test to start for the visitors though the win isn't enough to lift them off the bottom, they are now level on points with Cobh Ramblers and just two points behind fourth-bottom UCD.
Glynn, Galway's top scorer last season, struck to seal a deserved victory on 51 minutes.
UCD midfielder Brian King had just brought a super save from Galway keeper Gary Rogers at the other end.
Rogers gathered the resulting corner to clear and force a mistake from Ronan Finn which put Glynn clear to race away and shoot past Matt Gregg.
Further poor defending gifted Glynn another opening within minutes, but his goalbound shot struck UCD stand-in captain Alan McNally.
James O'Shea then got on the end of a Regi Nooitmeer cross only to head wide.
College rallied late on, but their problems in front of goal are all too evident as they've now managed just three goals in nine games.
John Reilly had a chance to level on 78 minutes but his shot from a tight angle was well grasped by Rogers.
Gregg then had to make a superb save with his feet from O'Shea at the other end on 80 minutes before UCD wasted two good chances.
First Paul Byrne drilled a shot at the feet of Rogers before the Galway keeper did really well to save, again with his feet, from Finn.
UCD: Gregg; Mahon, McNally, Kenna (McMillan, 9 mins.), Bermingham; Reilly (Bolger, 79 mins.), Finn, King, Doyle (Purcell, h/t); Byrne, McWalter.
GALWAY UNITED: Rogers; Nooitmeer, Charles, Fitzgerald, McCullough; O'Shea, Russell, Deegan, O'Brien (Fenn, 87 mins.); Leech (O'Flynn, 93 mins), Glynn.
Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).