GIVE UCD the sun on their backs, Belfield Park at its most pastoral and an early goat, and an outcome such as this is always feasible. Without Jason Sherlock and, for the last 50 minutes, Mick O'Byrne, Andy Myler assumed the lead role with a second half hat trick, highlighted by a stunning volley from just inside half way. Everybody's at it nowadays.

Promoted Finn Harps slunked away with their tails between their legs and it is a measure of the task facing them that the damage could easily been worse.

From first minute to last, UCD comprehensively outplayed their visitors, moving the ball around to feet more assuredly and at a pace which left Harps clamouring for the dressing room and the oxygen masks.

Everywhere the students were their masters. At the back, Tony McDonnell and Terry Palmer were in total control against a Harps attack shorn of the injured Jonathan Speake and David Dowling. More than anyone Jason Colwell ran the show, setting the tone with three early ball winning tackles and thereafter pulling the strings alongside an impressive Aidan Lynch.

Up front though, UCD ran Harps ragged. Mick O'Byrne, full of close control and menacing dribbling after a confidence lifting solo goal inside two minutes could have had a hat trick.

This made his 41st minute departure with knee ligament trouble (the extent of which won't be known until today) all the more disappointing. At half time he was joined by full back Eamonn McLoughlin (twisted ankle) and with Jason Sherlock hobbling around the sidelines due to a troublesome calf injury, the game and UCD looked deprived of its cutting edge.

Not a bit of it. Cue Myler. A strong, muscular striker with a deft touch at times too deft - he can be a frustrating talent. Already guilty of one poor miss, Myler attracted the ball like a magnet and outdid his entire tally from ten starts last season with a second half blitz. Admittedly, two were penalties, but one was entirely of his own making and they came either side of his audacious long range goal.

The win was not without cost, hence a contented Theo Dunne wasn't shouting from the rooftops, merely re iterating an old theme when saying: "We think we can do fairly well this season."

Of the day's hero, Dunne said: "Andy is well capable of that with a little bit of jizz in him. We a ways knew he was a good player." This is managerspeak for saying Myler's seemingly laissez faire style has, at times, driven Dunne demented. But if Myler could continue to uncork yesterday's he'll provide Dunne with an interesting selection poser when all are well and good.

However, it was O'Byrne who, made the early breakthrough. Picking up the ball on the right, he glided across goal, feinting this way and that until an opening appeared in a central position, before executing a low, left footed curler which beat David Platt inside his right post.

With one incision made, UCD surgically dissected Harps some more. Following good passing and movement, O'Byrne and Myler failed to convert one on ones from tight angles, before the former was clearly upended as he rounded Platt.

The thorn in their side removed for the second hall, even then Harps couldn't raise a decent gallop. Nine minutes after the break Colwell rejected an orthodox free into the box, instead finding the overlapping Fitzgerald who worked a one two with Darren O'Brien, beat his man and again found O'Brien, who was upended by Conor Frawley. Cool as a breeze, Myler curled the penalty inside Platt's left upright off a short run up.

Less than two minutes later, Myler controlled a loose ball five or six yards inside the Harps half to the right with his knee, looked up and hit a steepling, searing volley. The crowd sensed the trajectory was spot on as Platt scampered back, but the backpedalling keeper merely helped it on its way. Pretty soon these goals are going to become passe.

Harps became tetchier and more ragged, Myler fending off Stephen Kelly to a long through ball before his legs were taken from under him by Platt after 72 minutes. Nonchalantly, Myler reenacted his first penalty.

It could have been more. Lynch's meaty 30 yard drive rebounded from the post, and Myler was through twice more only to shoot wide and then be denied by Platt.