Emmanuel Adegboyega on the mark as Drogheda United win at the UCD Bowl

Emmanuel Adegboyega proved a match winner with his first senior goal as Drogheda United maintained their bright start to the season with victory at the UCD Bowl.

The 19-year-old centre-back met Dayle Rooney's 73rd minute free kick to glance a header to the far corner of the net for the only goal of an eventful game.

Drogheda move up to fourth in the table on eight points, five more than they had after five games last year, as UCD remain bottom.

The Boynesiders got the game's first sight of goal after four minutes, Darragh scooping his volley over the top from Rooney’s cross.

Markey and Freddie Draper saw chances before frantic defending in the home area thwarted the visitors on 23 minutes.

Rooney worked a trick on the left to whip a low cross to the near post for the run of Dylan Grimes.

Alert to the danger, Evan Osam got across to nick the ball off the midfielder’s toe.

It was 26 minutes before UCD threatened for the first time, Ciaran Behan teeing up Brendan Barr whose shot was blocked by a blanket Drogheda defence.

Much the better side, Drogheda then carved UCD open on 34 minutes.

Ryan Brennan’s tenacity won the ball with Grimes and Markey linking well for the latter to put Draper in down the inside right channel.

The finish was all that was lacking as the 18-year-old striker’s drive flashed just over the crossbar.

The chance of the first half then arrived five minutes before the interval when Markey pounced on a slip by College defender Harvey O’Brien.

Skipper Jack Keaney rescued the situation with a terrific tackle on the Drogs midfielder whose shot he deflected out for a corner.

With more purpose to their game from the restart, UCD finally worked Colin McCabe in the Drogheda goal nine minutes.

Keaney and Adam Wells set up Mark