Striker Karl Sheppard's classy early second half goal was enough to give Galway United only their sixth Premier Division victory of the season and keep them a comfortable eight points clear of the relegation zone in last night's uninspiring clash with UCD at the Belfield Bowl.

College had two early chances when defender Gareth Matthews played a clever ball through the middle which set up a chance for winger Keith Ward whose shot from the edge of the box was saved at the second attempt by 'keeper Barry Ryan.

Then a corner by Ward on the right allowed central defender Evan McMillan to get in a powerful header well taken by Ryan.

Galway threatened on 17 minutes when striker Sheppard set up a chance for midfielder Stephen O'Donnell only to see his 12 yard effort pushed away by 'keeper Ger Barron.

Ryan again denied Ward before College almost broke the deadlock on the half hour when a Ciaran Kilduff effort on the turn from 20 yards was narrowly deflected for a corner by Jamie McKenzie.

Kilduff again went close on 35 minutes when accepting another defence splitting pass from Ward only to shoot narrowly wide of the target. And the striker was then denied when Ryan parried an effort from 12 yards.

It was all one way traffic in the direction of the Galway goal when first a Chris Mulhall corner was headed narrowly over by McMillan.

But in a rare breakaway, Sheppard almost stole the lead for the visitors only for Barron to make a saving block with the College defence happy to scramble the rebound to safety. 

The Westerners started the second half in a more determined mood and had their noses in front on 48 minutes when a cross by winger Derek O'Brien from the left enabled Sheppard to clinically finish low from eight yards giving Barron no chance.

Then on 75 minutes an excellent cross-field ball from Seamus Conneely allowed O'Brien to get in an angled shot pushed out by the alert Barron. Galway were then happy to soak up a lot of late pressure from the home side to collect another valuable three points.

UCD: Barron; Matthews, E.McMillan, Boyle, Nangle; Ward, O'Conor, Creevy (Corry 58); Wilson, Kilduff, Mulhall.

Galway United: Ryan; Conneely, McKenzie, Sinnott, Meynell; Curran, O'Donnell, Foley, O'Brien; Sheppard, Walsh (King 64).

Referee: R Rogers (Dublin).