UCD sank Galway with three killer goals inside six second-half minutes to earn their first win in five games.
It was a match that seemed destined to run away from Galway from the kick-off as they afforded UCD the most fortuitous of starts when giving away an unforced owngoal with a mere 21 seconds gone.
Alan Mahon will take some almost embarrassing credit for his part in the goal with a surging run up the left.
And when his cross came over the unfortunate Galway right back deflected the ball past goalkeeper David Forde with his head with no one near him.
UCD might have stolen a second goal within a further two minutes, but Galway goalkeeper David Forde did well to thwart Tony McDonell when saving with his feet in a one-on-one situation.
Galway slowly got back into the game and levelled on 24 minutes. It was very much a solo effort from 20-year-old midfielder Ger Crossley, his first for the club, as he cut in from the left to beat Barry Ryan with a low drive.
Substitute Ciaran Martyn restored UCD's lead on 65 minutes when stabbing home a cross from Eoin Bennis after good work by Kevin Grogan.
Three minutes later, Martyn flicked on a Grogan corner and Tony McDonnell, scorer of two goals in his first start of the season last week, arrived to head home at the back post.
Galway's disastrous night was completed on 71 minutes when Bennis dispossessed central defender Brendan O'Connor to shoot home.
GALWAY UNITED: Forde; Keady, O'Connor, Silke, Fortune; Malee, Crossley, Sherdian, Muprhy; Lavine, Keogh. Subs: Goldbey for Keogh (58 mins), Barba for Murphy (60).
UCD: Ryan; McLoughlin, Delaney, McAuley, Mahon; J Martin, McDonnell, Kavangh, Grogan, O'Donnell; Bennis. Subs: Martyn for O'Donnell (58 mins).
Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).
Ireland were left frustrated by the heroics of Latvia goalkeeper Anton Trifonovs, who made a string of excellent saves to deprive Brian Kerr's side a win in the opening match of their qualifying tournament for next summer's UEFA Championships in Riga yesterday afternoon. The game ended 0-0.
