Drogheda outgun Shels to maintain position in top three

Drogheda United’s remarkable start to the season continued as they overcame Shelbourne to maintain their place in the top three.

Drogheda went closest to an early breakthrough when Alan McNally looped a header off the crossbar.

Philip Hughes then unleashed a good 25-yard strike for Shels which Sava did well to cling on to, before Skinner performed acrobatics to block a low drive from Brian Gannon and Declan O’Brien’s follow-up effort.

A minute before the break Eric Foley swung in a superb cross to the far post and Gannon arrived to bury a superb volley past Skinner to put the Drogs ahead.

Then eight minutes after half-time Declan O’Brien laid the ball into the path of Gannon and his cross was headed home by Ryan Brennan.

The visitors staged a mini rally and Sava dived full-length to his left to tip an Ian Ryan header away in the 65th minute, but on 74 minutes when Gavin Brennan squared for Peter Hynes who tapped in from close range.

Shels were given a glimmer of hope 10 minutes from time when Stephen Quigley handled in the box and Philip Hughes drilled in the resulting penalty, but almost immediately Drogheda sub Sean Brennan was pulled back just outside the box by Stephen Paisley who received a straight red card.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Sava; Quigley, McNally, Prendergast, Grimes; Foley, Gannon (M O’Brien, 87), R Brennan, G Brennan; Mulvenna (S Brennan, 78), D O’Brien (Hynes, 69).

SHELBOURNE: Skinner; Shortall, Ryan, Paisley, S Byrne; McGill (Murphy, 57), Dawson, Cronin, Cassidy (C. Byrne, 75), Kavanagh (Gorman, 57); Hughes.

Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).