The talented 20-year-old three-quarter, in his debut season, ended one of numerous backline moves from the students on 30 minutes with a well-taken try to send John McClean's side in at the break with an 8-3 lead.

Fly-half Eoghan Hickey - who took his season's tally to 98 points - kicked the visitors in front, before John Cleary levelled on 16 minutes.

After Cleary's second penalty on 60 minutes, a series of 'Wegians' penalty drives at 8-6 down were batted away by the UCD defence and Hickey began to turn the screw with his second penalty and a brilliant set-up for fullback Ross McCarron's third try of the season, with 12 minutes remaining.

Cleary's conversion of centre Stuary Meagher's 77th-minute effort left the match poised at 16-13, but Hickey held his nerve to punt over his second penalty attempt in injury time and keep fifth-placed UCD in the title hunt, just two points behind leaders Shannon.