UCD snatched a late winner at United Park last night to move above Drogheda out of the relegation zone of the table.

This was a hard fought game on a heavy surface that looked most likely to end in a draw, but Mick O'Byrne struck the vital goal with time running out.

UCD played the better football in the first half but spurned their scoring chances, and after halftime it looked as if Drogheda manager Jim McLaughlin had done the right thing to concentrate on defence.

Drogheda had defended well, for most of the game but were caught out in the 89th minute by a ball into the area from the right by the elusive Jason Sherlock which O'Byrne controlled well before cooly lobbing the advancing Drogheda goalkeeper John Grace.