Shamrock Rovers - 5 Drogheda Utd - 0 A fifth league win in six games, and their most comfortable of the season, further soothed the pain of their FAI Cup defeat as Shamrock Rovers cruised to fourth in the Premier Division table.

Rovers wasted no time in continuing their excellent league form; scoring after just 83 seconds with three more strikes coming inside a seven-minute spell before the half hour mark.

Tony Grant laid the ball back for Jason Colwell to send a long ball over the square Drogheda defence for Noel Hunt to run onto and shoot first time past Gary Rogers.

Gary Rogers made a superb tip-over save from Shane Robinson before the second goal came on 24 minutes. Again Drogheda were all over the place defensively as Terry Palmer's effort from Hunt's cross was parried by Rogers and Pat Scully followed up to score.

Robinson added the third five minutes later with a looping header and before Drogheda could draw breath they conceded a fourth within 90 seconds. Palmer sent Robinson away down the right to cross and Grant bravely stretched to put the ball into the net despite a heavy collision with Rogers that meant he had to go off injured minutes later.

Hunt then added his second in the final minute.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: O'Dowd (Horgan h/t); Gough, Scully, Palmer, Deans; Robinson, Colwell, Dimech (Tracey 80 mins.), Keddy; Hunt, Grant (Molloy 35 mins.).

DROGHEDA UNITED: Rogers; Dunne, Lynch, Todd (Gollogly h/t), Kelly; Quinless, Tierney, Smith (Quinn 75 mins.), Gallen (Cronin h/t); O'Connor, Myler.

Referee: D. Hancock (Dublin).