Drogheda United ... 0 UCD ... 1UCD looked more likely to score in the first half as Drogheda failed to find their rhythm. The students should have been ahead in the fourth minute when Robert McAuley's free from the edge of the Drogheda box forced goalkeeper Neill Bennett into a fine save.

Drogheda had a penalty appeal after 14 minutes when UCD goalkeeper Barry Ryan took down Declan O'Brien. However, referee Hugh Byrne was unimpressed. Alan Gallen then stabbed the ball narrowly wide of the Drogheda goal from six yards on 15 minutes. With 10 minutes remaining of the half, John Martin's in-swinging cross was headed to safety by Drogheda defender Chris Todd.

The real talking point of the first half was the sending off of UCD's Alan McNally five minutes from the break when the midfielder, booked seven minutes earlier, received a second yellow for a challenge on Gary Cronin.

UCD played deep in the second half but looked dangerous on the break. On the hour, in a breakaway attack, Robert Doyle's cross was headed inches wide by Clive Delaney.

When it looked like the game would end in stalemate, UCD struck for the winner. With three minutes remaining John Martin's cross found Michael O'Donnell, whose powerful diving header from eight yards found the bottom corner of the Drogheda net.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Bennett, O'Connor, Gray, Lynch, Todd, Kelly, Tierney, Cronin, O'Brien, Myler, Dunne. Subs: Taylor for Dunne 58 mins;C Delaney for Cronin 81 mins

UCD: Ryan B, Sullivan, Ryan D, McAuley, Delaney, McNally, Martin J, McDonnell, O'Donnell, Gallen, Martin R. Subs: R Doyle for Gannon 58 mins; Mahon for R Martin 69 mins.

Referee: Hugh Byrne (Dublin).