Pointless and bottom of the table, Drogheda United shot themselves in the foot before this game hardly got going at Belfield yesterday when their central defender John Carroll got himself sent off after just 31 seconds. Carroll clashed with UCD's Eoin Bennis, appearing to elbow the young midfielder in the face, and Waterford referee Joe Casey didn't hesitate to show him the red card.

UCD needed precious little invitation thereafter to make their numerical advantage pay and they went in at the interval full value for their 20 lead from superbly worked goals.

Jason Sherlock, playing his best football for some time, got the first on 28 minutes, stooping in to head home a precise cross from the left by 17-year-old debutant, Wayne Fitzel.

Sherlock should have had UCD in front eight minutes earlier but Drogheda goalkeeper Eddie van Boxtel did well to save with his feet from the UCD striker in a one-on-one.

UCD's second goal, three minutes before half-time, had added quality to it. Eamonn McLoughlin combined with Ciaran Kavanagh as they broke from midfield. Kavanagh's shot was blocked but ran back to McLoughlin who found the top right hand corner of Van Boxtel's net with a first time drive from 20 yards.

It was virtually one-way traffic throughout the second half as Drogheda capitulated. So much so in fact, that they were described as a "disgrace" by their manager, Martin Lawlor, afterwards.

Bennis wasted a double chance to increase UCD's lead in the 57th minute. He first shot against a post after Mick O'Byrne had played him in. And though he was then fortunate to get the rebound off Kavanagh's follow-up, he delayed his effort which was blocked by a defender.

But UCD weren't to be denied a third goal which came from a 72nd minute penalty. O'Byrne dribbled through from midfield to be tripped by David Fairclough and Robert Griffin converted.