As a result of an unforced error four minutes before the break, veteran Greg Bolger was gifted with a penalty and scored from the spot.

Corry had set up with a fine through ball as Kilduff flicked it on to Mulhall. He was too quick for Kendrick and the rash tackle sent the students ahead going into the break.

Drogheda had enjoyed a marginal advantage up to this point as their rookie striker Colm Smith had caught Evan McMillan out early on and Brendan McGill had the ball in the net from John Flood’s cross after seven minutes but was clearly offside. Twenty minutes later Duffy’s cross from the right provided Michael Daly with an opportunity and his shot whipped past Brennan’s left post.

It was far from one way, however, with Peter McMahon shooting over from Mulhall’s assist after just twelve minutes and Mulhall doing likewise after Corry’s run just after the half hour. But, prior to the spot kick, neither keeper was seriously troubled. McMahon’s cute lob beat Murphy but nestled on the top of his net a minute later and UCD went in ahead courtesy of a fine near post save by Billy Brennan from Alan McNally’s header.

Martin Russell had included both Harding and Shortall at the expense of Ciaran Nangle, presumably opting for experience and physical presence. He also started Dwayne Wilson who had come on as a substitute against Sporting Fingal and the tall striker obliged by forcing a corner off Jamie Harris in the first minute.

But it was in the first minute of the second period that the home side secured victory. A deft lobbed pass from the right by Sean Harding was perfectly judged to give Kilduff a difficult opportunity which he took with aplomb, precisely directing his header to loop away from Murphy into the corner of his net.