Two first-half goals were sufficient to get UCD off to a flying start against ragged Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.

Although Sligo improved in the second half, their morale boosted by a 48th minute goal by Padraig Moran, the students were seldom in trouble and held out with a fair degree of comfort. UCD opened brightly with Kieran Kavanagh and Ciaran Martyn dominating midfield and Brian Mooney and Eoin Bennis tormenting the Sligo rearguard.

With a little bit of luck, the lively Bennis might have had a first half hat-trick. He was denied in the eighth minute only by a lastditch tackle by Wesley Charles and shortly afterwards he turned sharply before bringing a diving save from Matt Boswell.

As the students continued to dominate, Bennis was unlucky to see a spectacular overhead kick fly just inches over the top.

The long-threatened breakthrough finally arrived on the halfhour when Aidan Lynch rose unmarked in a crowded goalmouth to head home Alan Mahon's left wing free.

They increased their advantage six minutes later when Michael O'Byrne converted from the spot after Mooney had been up-ended by Jim Sheridan.

Sligo, who were totally outplayed in the opening period, were given a badly needed tonic three minutes into the second half when Padraig Moran marked his return to action after a year-long absence with a cleverly worked goal.

Abandoning their sweeper system, Sligo pressed forward in search of an equaliser, but apart from a succession of late corners, they rarely troubled a well-disciplined UCD defence.

SLIGO ROVERS: Boswell, Rossiter, Bonnar, Charles, Sheridan, Lynch, Shannon, O'Grady, Flannery, Henry, McInally. Subs: Moran for Flannery (44 mins), Marshall for Lynch (66 mins), Oates for Henry (87 mins).

UCD: Ryan, McDonnell, Mahon, Lynch, Delaney, Kavanagh, Mooney, Martyn, O'Byrne, Bennis, Dunne. Sub: Hanrahan for Dunne (69 mins).

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).