Rampant Drogheda celebrate record Setanta victory

Drogheda United 4 Portadown 0

Drogheda tonight moved a giant step towards the semi-finals of the Setanta Sports Cup by killing off Portadown with two quick-fire goals inside the opening nine minutes.

The FAI Cup holders had dominated last week’s 0-0 draw between the sides at Shamrock Park but just couldn’t score.

There were no such problems on their way to a record win in the competition tonight as Paul Keegan fired home the opener on seven minutes after Shane Barrett’s shot deflected to him.

Barrett then hit his first goal for the club with a delightful curling shot from 20 yards just 90 seconds later.

The game was over as a contest on 32 minutes when captain Declan O’Brien added the third goal, touching Steve Gray’s shot home from close range.

O’Brien hit his second with a terrific 25-yard shot on 56 minute before fluffing his hat-trick when shooting a 69th minute penalty off a post after Ports' defender Kyle Neil had been sent off for a foul on Shane Robinson.