Byrne hat-trick seals Shels win

Shelbourne 4 UCD 2

Jason Byrne scored a hat-trick as Shelbourne narrowed the gap on second-placed Derry to nine points.

UCD never lied down with Anto Murphy levelling Byrne’s 14th minute opener within two minutes.

Byrne put Shels back in front on 34 minutes only for UCD to hit back again through Pat McWalter two minutes after the break.

A 73rd minute penalty gave Byrne his third before skipper Owen Heary headed the clinching fourth goal ten minutes from time.