UCD 2 Waterford United 1:A madcap three first-half minutes brought further misery to Waterford's week as they slumped to a dispiriting defeat at Belfield.
Comprehensively dumped out of the FAI Cup - 4-0 at Cork City - in Tuesday's quarter-final replay, a perceived chance to open up a further gap on bottom of the table Longford Town, who were playing leaders Drogheda, did not work out.
UCD got on top early on to score twice inside three minutes before the 20 minute mark. Alan Mahon's long throw bounced past Connor Sammon on 16 minutes, but Patrick McWalter's overhead kick was handled by Ray Scully who had his arms negligently in the air.
Referee Derek Tomney pointed to the spot and Sammon confidently shot home the penalty.
Then, Sammon fed Shane McFaul who put Conan Byrne in behind the flat rearguard and he ran on to sidefoot past Dean Delaney.
Waterford enjoyed their best spell midway through the second half with Vinny Sullivan bringing a one-handed save out of Darren Quigley before Willy John Kiely fired just off target.
Paul McCarthy did get a goal back on 68 minutes when heading home Dave Warren's free-kick in from the left.
UCD: Quigley; Mahon, McMillan, Shortall (Gallagher, 59 mins), Kenna; C Byrne, McFaul, King, McWalter; Purcell (Finn, 74 mins), Sammon.
WATERFORD UNITED: Delaney; Scully, Brosnan, Breen (Hayes, h/t), Hedderman; Bermingham (Kiely, 8 mins), D Mulcahy, McCarthy, Warren, Kearney (Lordan, 69 mins); Sullivan.
Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).
