Shane Robinson fired home an 82nd-minute penalty-kick to give champions Drogheda an unimpressive victory over struggling UCD at United Park.
The Boynesiders fell behind just before half-time and were poor for long spells in the game, but the second-half introduction of Richie Baker turned the game on its head and it was he who pulled Drogheda level just when it seemed that the points were heading College’s way.
With Jason Gavin absent following his much-publicised falling-out with manager Paul Doolin and Shaun Maher injured, Drogheda started with a central defensive pairing of John Tambouras and Graham Gartland, but all eyes were on debutant Fahrudin Kuduzovic, signed during the week from Sligo.
The Bosnian was lively in the opening stages alongside Eamon Zayed in attack, but Ollie Cahill went closest to an early goal when he drove a low shot narrowly wide.
Zayed almost forced the ball over the line on two occasions, before Adam Hughes latched onto Paul Keegan’s free-kick, only for UCD keeper Matt Gregg to save the Australian’s header at point-blank range.
Kuduzovic worked an opening for himself and drove narrowly wide of Gregg’s right-hand post.
But against the run of play UCD struck when a poor clearing header from John Tambouras dropped straight to Ronan Finn who shot past keeper Jamie Ewings from 12 yards.
Drogheda’s challenge wilted after that as they seemed to run out of attacking ideas against an increasingly confident College defence.
Derek Doyle could have doubled the visitors’ tally, only to see his fiercely struck free kick strike team-mate Patrick McWalter.
But somehow Drogheda dragged themselves back on level terms mid-way through the second half. They won a free out on the right and Baker - only on the field eight minutes in place of Zayed – rose to head Keegan’s kick past Gregg from 12 yards.
Baker almost scored again moments later when his diagonal shot nearly sneaked inside Gregg’s right-hand post, and inevitably the substitute was involved in Drogheda’s all-important second goal when his corner kick was handled in the box by Conor Kenna.
The UCD player was yellow-carded and Robinson stepped up to beat Gregg from the penalty spot, much to the relief of the home support.
Drogheda United: Ewings, Byrne, Tambouras, Gartland, Kendrick, Robinson, Hughes, Keegan, Cahill, Zayed, Kuduzovic. Sub: Baker for Zayed (59min).
UCD: Gregg, Mahon, McMillan, Kenna, Bermingham, McNally, McFaul, King, Finn, Doyle, McWalter. Subs: Shortall for Mahon (46min), O’Neill for Doyle (86min), Byrne for McNally (86min).
Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).
