UCD ... 0 Shelbourne ... 2Super-substitute Alex Nesovic hit a dramatic goal for Shelbourne just seconds after being introduced to seal the win at Belfield Park last night.

The league champions led for much of the game through Stephen Geoghegan's 12th-minute opener, but it took Nesovic's second-half intervention to seal the win.

It was a cracker when it came, too, as Shelbourne picked up their third win on the trot to dump UCD right back down into the relegation dogfight.

In truth, Shels should have been one up by the eighth minute with Geoghegan going so close.

Richie Baker teed up the veteran forward, but his shot struck the upright to the right of UCD's stand-in goalkeeper, Patrick Jennings, and flew away to safety.

Minutes later, Geoghegan did find the mark. This time, it was the result of terrible indecision in the UCD defence as Jennings failed to hold Darragh Ryan's heavy back-pass.

Geoghegan picked up the crumbs, beat a defender and slotted home from close range.

It was all downhill for UCD after that and, with Bray thumping St Patrick's Athletic across the city, the pressure is on now for Paul Doolin's side.

Tony McDonnell and Richie Purdy both went close to grabbing an equaliser for UCD before Nesovic stepped in to settle matters.

After 55 minutes - just 20 seconds after he replaced the injured Geoghegan - Ollie Cahill swung in the corner from the right, Baker headed back goalwards and there was Nesovic to guide the ball home perfectly.

UCD: P Jennings; P Sullivan, R McAuley, C Delaney (R Purdy 32 mins), D Ryan; J Martin, A McNally, T McDonell, A Cawley; R Martin (A Gallen 70 mins), R Doyle.

SHELBOURNE: S Williams; E Heary, K Doherty, J Gannon, D Crawley; R Baker, J Crawford, S Byrne, O Cahill; W Hoolahan (P Beavers 90 mins), S Geoghegan (A Nesovic 54 mins).

Referee: H Byrne (Dublin)