UCD 0 Shamrock Rovers 2:  GOALS FROM Tadhg Purcell and Padraig Amond earned Shamrock Rovers a second win in three unbeaten games to move them up to seventh in the table.

A third successive defeat for UCD, and their ninth scoreless game this season, sees them remain firmly in the relegation zone.

A bright start by the students, which needed a last-ditched tackle by Pat Flynn on Shane Fitzgerald, after Pat McWalter had skipped all too easily past Barry Ferguson to cross, prevented a certain goal on 19 minutes.

That merely woke Rovers from their slumber, though, and they responded, culminating in their lead goal 10 minutes later.

Darragh Maguire was bossing midfield and his surging run brought the score. UCD goalkeeper Matt Gregg failed to hold the shot and Purcell was alert to the loose ball to bundle it over the line.

Seán O'Connor provided the delivery from a corner for the second goal in the 62nd minute with Amond stooping to head past Gregg at the back post.

Pat McWalter worked hard to get UCD back into it, making room to fire in a long-range shot that was narrowly wide. But that was as good as it got for Pete Mahon's side whose only consolation on the night was the news that Finn Harps, one point above them, lost at home to Cork City.

UCD:Gregg; Shortall, McMillan, Kenna, Bermingham; Fitzgerald, McFaul (King 72), McNally (Byrne half-time), Doyle (O'Neill half-time); Finn; McWalter.

Shamrock Rovers:Murphy; O'Brien, Ferguson, Price, Flynn; S O'Connor (McGill 65), Maguire, D O'Connor, Stapleton (Doyle 78); Purcell, Amond (Leech 71).

Referee:A Buttimer (Cork).