UCD striker Conor Sammon was the hero at the Brandywell as the bustling striker dumped FAI Ford Cup holders Derry City out of this season's competition.
Sammon struck on the hour mark following a superb move down the right flank. Conan Byrne left Killian Brennan in his wake and his low cross into the area was forced home by the UCD hitman.
Pete Mahon was missing seven first choice players and elected to string five men across the centre of the park in a counter-attacking set-up.
The home side opened in determined mood and should have broken the deadlock during the opening five minutes.
Eddie McCallion worked his way past UCD’s Pat McWalter and sent a low cross into the danger, but Kevin McHugh’s deft touch failed to hit the target.
Mahon’s men could easily have opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Conor Kenna’s low shot was parried by Pat Jennings before the ball was whipped clear.
Just before the interval Ciaran Martyn played McHugh in, but the ball seemed to get tangled between his legs and another opportunity was lost.
Then a Ruaidhri Higgins cross was met by Paddy McCourt who headed the ball over the crossbar from close range.
Following the restart the home side continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession as Martyn flashed a shot over the crossbar while Mark Farren’s attempted cross was too close to the UCD keeper.
Barry Molloy did have Quigley scrambling in the 53 minute with a shot from 25 yards but the UCD keeper parried the effort wide of the upright at the expense of a corner.
The best scoring chance of the match up until that point fell to Derry in the 58th minute. A superb pass from well inside his own half by Higgins sent Farren scampering clear but the striker recklessly flashed the ball wide of the target in a one-on-one situation with Quigley.
UCD moved the ball up the park two minutes later and Byrne’s cross was nudged home by Sammon from point blank range.
Shots from McCourt and McHugh were comfortably dealt with by Quigley as the home side continued to surge forward, but it was the visitors who remained disciplined and in control of the vital midfield area.
With six minutes remaining a curling Brennan free-kick shaved the UCD upright and it was clear this was not to be Derry’s night.
Derry City: Jennings; McCallion, Oman (Hargan, 78 mins.), Hutton, Brennan; Higgins (Deery, 68 mins.), Molloy, Martyn, McCourt (McGlynn, 80 mins.); Farren, McHugh.
UCD: Quigley; Mahon, McMillan (Gallagher, half-time), Shortall, Kenna; Byrne (Purcell, 85 mins.), King, McFaul, Finn, McWalter; Sammon.
Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).
