UCD 0; Shelbourne 1: If Shelbourne are to go on to win the championship this season they may look back on this result, extracted from a most unconvincing performance, as a watershed.
Jamie Harris got the all-important goal on 60 minutes, but it was very harsh on UCD, who created enough chances to have continued their recent renaissance.
Winning matches when not at your best is viewed as a sign of a good side and Shelbourne may have been pondering the wisdom of that footballing adage as they regained their eight-point lead at the top of the table. Just what they would have wanted with a visit from champions Bohemians to come next Friday.
Enjoying their best run of the season, the confidence was evident in UCD from the start, bolstered, no doubt, by the fact they could field the same side for the third match running.
Hit by injuries to topscorer Jason Byrne, fellow striker Stephen Geoghegan and midfielder Jim Crawford, and suspension to left back stand-in Dave Rogers, Shelbourne patched up with Ollie Cahill slotting in at left-back and Kevin Doherty and Richie Baker coming in.
UCD took the game to the league leaders, forcing Steve Williams into a superb save within five minutes. Alan Cawley rolled a free kick to his left and Robert McAuley's dipping 30-yard shot produced acrobatics from Williams, who had to dive full length to push the ball out for a corner.
Shelbourne registered some intent with Cahill, not quite relinquishing his winger's role, getting forward well to volley narrowly over Patrick Jennings' crossbar.
Shelbourne may have been seeing marginally more of the ball, but UCD's direct approach was causing them problems. Robert Griffin, scarcely believing his luck as Alan Gallen's cross was allowed to reach him, failed to get any real force on his header which was hacked clear by Heary as Shelbourne looked decidedly uncertain at the back.
Mark Rooney then twice brought comfortable saves out of Williams, the first a header from a Cawley cross before the keeper needed a second attempt to bring a 25-yard shot under control.
College continued to show great promise and it should have been rewarded on 37 minutes when they again exposed the hesitant Shelbourne defence.
Alan McNally's hopeful punt over the top should have been dealt with, but Doherty allowed Mick O'Donnell to ghost in. The midfielder shot weakly into Williams's arms, however.
The Students remained the better side into the second half but having wasted yet that clear chance, you sensed if wasn't to be UCD's night and so it proved as they fell behind to the only goal of the game on the hour.
Harris's header from Gerard Rowe's cross from the right looped into the top left-hand corner of the keeper's net.
UCD: Jennings; Sullivan (Davey, 85 mins), McNally, McAuley, Ryan, J Martin, Griffin, Cawley (McDonnell, 75 mins), O'Donnell, Gallen, Rooney (Leech, 85 mins).
SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Doherty, A McCarthy, Cahill, R Baker, S Byrne, Morgan, Hoolahan (D Baker, 82 mins), Harris, Rowe (G McCarthy, 79 mins).
Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).
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