AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Drogheda Utd 3 Shelbourne 1:A CRACKING encounter saw Drogheda consolidate their position in the upper echelons of the table as they proved the more clinical outfit in a game of many chances.

With their first incisive attack Drogheda should have scored as Gavin Brennan opted to go it alone and saw his weak shot saved by Paul Skinner, with Tiarnan Mulvenna better positioned.

The home side went even closer within minutes as Alan McNally saw a header rebound off the crossbar from Eric Foley’s corner.

At the other end Brendan McGill guided his header wide and Paddy Kavanagh again supplied David Cassidy in a move identical to one earlier which ended with the same fruitless outcome.

After 30 minutes Shels goalkeeper Skinner made a fine double save to deny Brian Gannon’s daisy cutter and Declan O’Brien’s effort.

Drogheda deservedly hit the front on 44 minutes when Eric Foley whipped in a deep cross for Brian Gannon, who finished superbly at the back post.

Gavin Brennan twice went close for Drogheda, while Kavanagh saw an effort for the visitors go just past the upright before Drogheda doubled their lead with a fine goal on 53 minutes as Ryan Brennan met a Gannon delivery to guide his header just beyond Skinner.

Philip Hughes saw a goal-bound header somehow saved by Gabriel Sava before Peter Hynes made it 3-0 for Drogheda following a goalmouth scramble. Shelbourne pulled a goal back from the penalty spot through Hughes but any comeback hopes were dashed when Stephen Paisley was sent off with four minutes remaining.

DROGHEDA UTD: Sava, Quigley, Prendergast, McNally, R Brennan, Mulvenna (S Brennan, 78 mins), G Brennan, Grimes, Gannon (M O'Brien, 87 mins), D O'Brien (Hynes, 68 mins), Foley.

SHELBOURNE: Skinner, Paisley, Cronin, Cassidy (Byrne, 75 mins), Hughes, Dawson, McGill (Murphy, 61 mins), Shorthall, Kavanagh (Gorman, 61 mins), Byrne, Ryan.

Referee: T Connolly(Dublin)