Shelbourne 5 Waterford United 0: Shelbourne's claims for a Uefa spot were enhanced last night as they romped to victory over the hapless Waterford United at Tolka Park.

A Jason Byrne hat-trick and a brace from Gary O'Neill ensured the victory for the defending champions that keeps them eight points off second place and nine points off top spot, with a game in hand.

From the moment O'Neill opened the scoring with a low drive from 12 yards after 15 minutes, a Shelbourne victory never looked in doubt as they comfortably dominated the game.

Byrne then started his own goal-scoring spree in the 27th minute with a powerful header from a Bobby Ryan corner. Shelbourne continued to press forward and Wes Hoolahan crashed a shot off the post in the 30th minute, before Byrne made it 3-0 with a spectacular overhead kick from a Ryan right-wing cross in the 39th minute.

Byrne completed his hat-trick and made it 23 for the season when he headed another Ryan cross home on the stroke of half-time.

In the second half, it was a case of how many Shelbourne could score.

It started off well for the home side when O'Neill grabbed his second of the night with a close-range header after Byrne had headed a Hoolahan cross into his path on 49 minutes.

And when Kevin Waters was dismissed one minute later for a rash tackle on Colin Hawkins, it seemed more were sure to follow.

But despite dominating the game, Shelbourne did not grab a sixth despite plenty of chances. Ryan had a free kick saved by Holden before Hoolahan was also thwarted by the goalkeeper after bursting through one-on-one.

SHELBOURNE: Delaney; Heary, Hawkins, Rogers, Cahill; Ryan, Ndo, Crawford (Chambers 65), Hoolahan, O'Neill (Fitzpatrick 82), Byrne (Moore 72).

WATERFORD UNITED: Holden; Andrews (Purcell 64), Breen, Mulcahy, Browne; Jack (Lester 66), Crowley, Grant, Waters, Heffernan (Dunphy 85); Sullivan.

Referee: H Whoriskey (Westmeath).