Drogheda Utd - 2 Longford Town - 0: Drogheda saw off a disappointing Longford side with a goal in each half to go third in the Premier Division - a point ahead of Cork - with just four games remaining in the season.

Despite losing captain Declan O'Brien early in the second half, the two goal lead they'd established by then was sufficient to see them through.

Drogheda went close to opening their account after just four minutes when Gavin Whelan headed Steven Gray's delivery back across goal for Paul Keegan, who flashed his shot narrowly wide.

The home side continued to press and Declan O'Brien then set up Whelan but the ball simply wouldn't come down as the midfielder poked his effort from close range over the bar.

With 13 minutes gone the visitors should have scored when Damian Brennan sent Dave Mooney through on goal.

However, having rounded keeper Dan Connor, he pushed the ball too wide and athough directing his shot on goal Connor scrambled back to stop the ball on the line.

Drogheda's persistence was eventually rewarded after 26 minutes when Steven Gray's cross from the left was turned past keeper Shay Kelly into his own net by the unfortunate Steven Paisley.

Six minutes later United should have made it two when O'Brien slipped the ball to Keegan, who waltzed past several challenges before grazing the woodwork with his strike.

Right on the half-time whistle Brian Shelley's rasping drive from 25 yards was deflected past the post.

The second half was only 50 seconds old when Drogheda struck for number two as O'Brien raced down the left and crossed for keeper Kelly to parry the ball into the path of Gavin Whelan who drilled his shot to the bottom corner of the net.

The home side were then reduced to 10 men when O'Brien was cautioned for a second time after lunging two-footed at David Freeman.

But Drogheda coped comfortably with anything Longford had to offer despite their numerical disadvantage in the closing stages.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor, Gray, Gavin, Gartland, Robinson, Whelan (Lynch, 90 mins), O'Brien, Fitzpatrick (Zayed, 77 mins), Shelley, Keegan, Barrett (Webb, 77 mins).

LONGFORD TOWN: Kelly, Gough, Murphy, Paisley, Kirby, Baker (Martin, 67 mins), Prunty, Brennan, Mooney, Freeman, Cronin.

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).