A late burst by Drogheda put paid to Mervue's gallant challenge as the Premier Division strugglers finally saw off the Galway outfit who were well in this cup tie up until the closing stages.

 

Drogheda took the lead in the seventh minute after Colin O’Brien’s cross picked out Dinny Corcoran who saw his header pushed away by keeper Ronan Forde into the path of Daragh Hanaphy who sent his shot to the net.

The home side should have increased their lead as Hanaphy, Corcoran and O’Brien all went close, however, it was the visitors who looked the more likely to level matters as the half wore on.

John King outpaced the Drogheda defence racing onto a long Forde clearance but Trimble made the save. However, from the resulting corner, the keeper almost went from hero to villain in an instant when he spilled the ball to James Casserly who rapped his shot off the underside of the bar.

Before the break O’Brien back on his customary defending duties came to Drogheda’s rescue when he was in position on the goal line to head Jason Molloy’s effort away.

Poor Drogheda defending almost handed Mervue an equaliser early on in the second half when their defence failed to cut out a cross that fell to King who saw his shot tipped onto the post by Trimble.

Drogheda made their passage to the next round safe on 78 minutes when Stephen McCrossan’s through ball picked out Dinny Corcoran who cleverly steered the ball past Forde who had raced from his line.

Substitute David Freeman then hit the target twice within sixty seconds when he sent a header and a shot past the hapless Forde to seal what in the end turned out to be a comfortable win.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Trimble, O’Brien C (Murray 90), Hand, Gannon, Ekanem, Quigley, O’Brien M, McCrossan (Doyle 90), Hanaphy, Corcoran, McNamara (Freeman 60).

MERVUE UNITED: Forde, Crehan, Cunningham, Conneely , Casserley (Ludden 82), Varley, King (Lee 79), Mountney, Goldbey (Dravins 82), Gaffney, Molloy.

Referee: D. Tomney (Dublin)