UCD recorded only their third away win of the season - and their third ever win in Dalymount Park - when surprisingly outplaying their hosts to set their stall out as favourites to seal seventh place in the league.
UCD were unchanged from the team which had gone down to Shels the previous week and were soon gaining the upper hand in what was a typical end-of-season clash. With 20 minutes gone, Pat Kavanagh was played through only for Stephen O'Brien to come out and save with his feet, while in the next ten minutes, Conor Sammon somehow headed wide from six yards and Ronan Finn shimmied past his man inside the box only to shoot wide.
Bohs had their chances too in what was a very open game, with their best coming on 35 minutes when a shot on the turn was ultimately easily dealt with by Darren Quigley in goals. UCD lost Paul Crowley just before ahlf-time when he was taken off with a chipped bone in the foot, while Bohs also were forced into a replacement, with John Paul Kelly the player to come off.
Into the second half, and there was a real let off for the Students when Bohs could well have been awarded a penalty. A ball forward was flagged as offside, a decision which was clearly erroneous; Bohs played on and when the referee blew as Darren Quigley brought down his man, it looked as if the ref had ignored the offside and given the penalty; instead, he acknowledged the lineswoman's flag, which had been raised for a good ten seconds.
Ten minutes later, UCD took the lead. Pat Kavanagh intercepted the ball on the edge of the Bohs area and burst forward to plant a low shot into the far corner of Stephen O'Brien's goal.
UCD should have put the game out of Bohs' reach after that. First Ronan Finn broke through the hosts' defence only to shoot straight at O'Brien before Pat Kavanagh was cynically hauled down ten yards outside the area after another good run up the wing. Two minutes later, Kavanagh was again tormenting the Bohs defence, but his pass to the unmarked Derek Doyle was just about cut out. Then a run from defence by Alan McNally set up Conor Sammon with a great chance, but clean through on goals, he saw his shot deflected wide by the advancing O'Brien.
Bohs did have chances late on to grab an equaliser, but the UCD defence were alert, with Ronan Finn clearing when a deep throw caused confusion and Keith Doyle on ahnd to get in between two Bohs attackers to send a diving header calmly back to Quigley.
UCD - Quigley; Kenna, K Doyle, McNally, McDonnell; Crowley (Hurley 43), Kavanagh, Dicker, D Doyle; Finn, Sammon. Subs not used - Harte, P Byrne, Hussey, Ryan.
Att - c 800
