UCD cruised to a comprehensive win over a disjointed Galway United in the Airtricity Premier Division clash in the UCD Bowl on Monday night.

Goals from Dean Marshall, Darren Meenan and Samir Belhout helped the Students to a third win in four matches and leaves struggling Galway nine points adrift of their opponents.

Marshall's penalty on 34 minutes opened the scoring and the former Sligo Rovers man then superbly crossed for Meenan to head home a second goal six minutes before the break.

Belhout sealed the win in the 70th minute with a powerful finish from 10 yards, compounding Sean Connor's misery.

After a crushing 7-0 defeat to Derry City on Friday night, UCD boss Martin Russell brought in Paul O'Conor and Belhout for Sean Harding and Ciaran Nangle.

Injury-hit Galway also made two alterations from their last outing with Bobby Ryan and Shaun Kelly in for Shaun Maher and Shane Keogh.

The Students started brightly as Marshall's free from 25 yards was pushed away by Greg Fleming inside the first minute and then cleared away.

Sean Kelly was the first to threaten for Galway, shooting over the bar from 25 yards.

Robbie Creevy was forced off for College in the 14th minute after picking up an injury, with Sean Russell coming on.

Galway were also forced into a change because of a knock as Eduardo Duici was taken off and Rory Gartland was introduced.

Substitute Russell's cross caused panic in the Galway defence on 18 minutes but Meenan was unable to connect with the ball and the chance was gone.

Galway should have taken the lead in the 25th minute.

David O'Connor's poor pass towards goal allowed Stephen Walsh through with just Ger Barron to beat but the versatile Tribesmen struck his shot wide of the post.

The away side had another tremendous chance on the half-hour mark.

Walsh laid the ball off for Bobby Ryan to cross, only for Alan Murphy to blaze over from 10 yards with the UCD backline motionless.

Galway were made pay for the missed opportunities shortly after and again it stemmed from an error rather than attacking prowess.

The Tribesmen defence got completely mixed up as the ball was played towards Fleming and Belhout ran across the keeper, beating him to the ball, with the striker was then taken down by the Galway number one.

Referee Paul McLaughlin pointed to the spot and Marshall stepped up to take the penalty, sending Fleming the wrong way.

The second goal arrived six minutes before the break, with a sensational cross by Marshall on the left wing allowing Darren Meenan to head home from six yards.

The delivery by the ex-Sligo Rovers man was inch-perfect and proved a moment of sublime quality that would light up any game.

Galway were really struggling now and the half-time break came as a relief to Connor's men.

In the 50th minute Bobby Ryan's 25-yard effort was well off-target after Walsh laid the ball off.

Rusk and Shaun Kelly were booked after an off the ball incident on the hour mark as the game slowed down in pace.

Steve Feeney headed wide from corner on 62 and 64 minutes respectively as Galway tried to get back into the match.

Marshall and Rusk combined well on 69 minutes with the latter putting a dangerous ball into the area that Feeney did well to clear.

Feeney picked up an injury in that incident and, while Galway were down to 10-men, the Students wrapped up the game.

Meenan broke down the right and picked out Belhout who slammed the ball into the roof of the net.

The striker, who two days earlier scored in College's 4-3 defeat against Sligo Rovers in the A Championship, was left with an easy finishesith Feeney off the pitch.

Enda Curran came on for Feeney and he has a chance for Galway with 13 minutes left but the header was over the bar.

College threatened to add to their advantage, with Meenan missing a late opportunity on another difficult night for the struggling Connacht club.

UCD: Ger Barron, Paul O'Conor, Yael Haro, David O'Connor, Daniel Ledwith, Dean Marshall, Paul Corry, Robbie Creevy (Sean Russell 14), Darren Meenan, Graham Rusk (James Kavanagh 86), Samir Belhout (Stephen Doyle 78).

Galway United: Greg Fleming, Shaun Kelly, Paul Sinnott, Steve Feeney (Enda Curran 71), Eduardo Duici (Rory Gartland 17), Bobby Ryan, Sean Kelly, Gary Kelly, Karl Moore (Shane Keogh 56), Stephen Walsh, Alan Murphy.

Stephen Walsh went close for United when the score was 0-0.