UCD 3 St Patrick's Ath 2:UCD EASED their relegation worries when second-half goals from David McMillan, Ciarán Kilduff and Greg Bolger gave them their first win in nine league games at the Belfield Bowl last night.

With the driving wind and rain behind them, St Patrick’s went ahead on 23 minutes when striker Danny North picked up a loose ball in midfield and let fly from 28 yards with a superb strike that gave Billy Brennan no chance.

On 29 minutes, Derek Doyle let fly from 25 yards only for Brennan to brilliantly push the ball round the post.

Just prior to the interval striker Kilduff set up a chance for Mulhall only to see his effort blocked by former College man Conor Kenna.

Striker David McMillan, out injured since last June, was introduced as a half-time substitute. And he made a sensational start with a superb goal after less than a minute on the pitch when he volleyed home from 25 yards.

Kilduff then took advantage of a defensive lapse on 65 minutes to cut in from the left and fire past Gary Rogers from 16 yards.

It was all one-way traffic in the direction of the St Patrick’s goal in the second half and the Students added a third goal when referee Richie Winter adjudged that Ian Bermingham had taken down Kilduff on 70 minutes.

That looked like a harsh decision but did not prevent midfielder Greg Bolger from blasting home the resulting penalty.

St Patrick’s did have a late consolation goal in added time when Seán Stewart shot home from close range – but by then it was too little, too late and the Inchicore men’s outside hopes of the title are over for another season.

UCD: Brennan, O'Conor, Leahy, E McMillan, Shorthall; Rusk (D McMillan 45), Bolger, Corry, Mulhall, Moore; Kilduff (Roche 87).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Lynch, Kenna, Guthrie (Byrne 67), Bermingham; McAllister (Stewart 77), Mulcahy, O'Connor, Doyle (Cash 76); Faherty, North.

Referee: Richie Winter (Wicklow).