DECLAN O'BRIEN, a cup winning captain and final scorer with Drogheda United, hit a hat-trick as Monaghan eased into the fourth round against Cork non-league side Everton at Gortakeegan.

The first arrived on 20 minutes when O'Brien headed home John Reilly's cross off the underside of the crossbar.

Two minutes later "Fabio" was there again to score from Paul Whelan's pass. 

Ryan Brennan added a third goal when O'Brien flicked through Gabriel Sava's clearance to put him in on goal to beat visiting keeper Sherlock.

Everton got a goal back when defender Aidan Collins put through his own net on 83 minutes before O'Brien completed his hat-trick following an Eric Foley corner.