Drogheda off to a winning start

Drogheda United 3 Cliftonville 2

Eamon Zayed scored two headers as holders Drogheda had to work hard to open their defence of the Setanta Sports Cup with a win over a very plucky Cliftonville in a thrilling game at United Park.

Ex-Irish under-21 international Zayed broke the deadlock on 39 minutes from a well-worked set-piece. Richie Baker played a short corner to Brian Shelley's whose crisp cross was glanced to the net off the striker's head.

A stunning free-kick from Francis Murphy had Cliftonville level on 57 minutes after a foul by Shelley on John Martin.

Richie Baker's persistent restored Drogheda's lead on 73 minutes when he latched onto Zayed's lay-off to blast to the roof of the net.

Zayed then made it 3-1 with a terrific diving header from Joe Kendrick's cross in the 85th minute.

But Clitonville didn't lie down and they finished strongly with Mark Holland volleying home their second goal two minutes later to force a grandstand finish.

Drogheda had to hang on as Paul Keegan cleared off the line from David McAlinden while Cliftonville also had a late shout for a penalty waved away after keeper Mikko Vilmunen appeared to foul Chris Scannell.