Trevor Vaughan making his first start for Monaghan United raised local supporters hopes when he scored their first goal in the Eircom League, premier division, after five minutes' play.
But hopes were short-lived and in the ninth minute UCD centre-back Clive Delaney headed home in the crowded goalmouth following a corner. Monaghan had chances of taking the lead especially when Darren McKenna beat Robert McAuley to go one on one with keeper Barry Ryan; but Ryan saved his finishing effort.
UCD took the lead on 44 minutes through Robert Martin. The same player might have further increased the lead two minutes after the break when he broke through but shot straight at home keeper Eamon Byrne; but UCD did increase their lead in the 57th minute when Ciaran Martyn found the net.
Monaghan fought, but their efforts smacked of desperation and they didn't really look like scoring. UCD's fourth was scored by Ciaran Martyn in the 87th minute of a poor game.
MONAGHAN UNITED: Byrne, Hill, Mitchell, Carroll, Scully, Mooney, Shiels, Rogers, Murphy, McKenna, Vaughan. Subs: McCarville for Scully (half-time); Lundy for Rogers (66 mins); Corrigan for Vaughan (78 mins).
UCD: B Ryan, Mahon, O'Donnell, McAuley, Delaney, Purdy, J Martin, C Martyn, O'Connor, R Martin, D Ryan. Sub: McNally for J Martin (inj - 88 min).
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin)
Longford Town just about deserved to edge home against Derry City 1-0 at Flancare Park on Saturday night, a win that brought their four- match losing run to an end.
It was a sometimes scrappy but nonetheless entertaining encounter that was brimful of goalmouth action. However, both sets of attackers were guilty on many occasions of failing to convert glorious opportunities.
Longford's goal came in the 66th minute. Some clever work on the left wing from Keith O'Connor ended with the striker playing a perfect pass into the path of Alan Kirby and the former Waterford player made no mistake.
Derry proceeded to throw everything into attack in vain search of an equaliser in the closing stages.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)