As comfortable a win as they come and all the more pleasing for Shelbourne manager, Damien Richardson, for the way his team maintained its momentum and attacked Drogheda until the final whistle. Drogheda's recently-appointed manager, Martin Lawlor, may have suspected there could be days like this as he strives to build his team. However Saturday night's defeat at Tolka Park must have been demoralising.

Shelbourne coasted into the lead thanks to a 21st-minute goal from Pat Fenlon after Tony Sheridan and Mark Rutherford tore Drogheda apart down the left flank.

The loss of Paschal Vaudequin on the half-hour with a facial injury unsettled Shelbourne briefly. But Drogheda failed to grasp their chances as Ian Gilzean lobbed against the crossbar and Mick Neville was perfectly positioned to clear off the line and deprive Andy Ramage a debut goal.

Pat Scully's rich vein of goalscoring form restored Shelbourne's cruise control two minutes before half-time when he got on the end of Dessie Baker's excellent cross to sidefoot home at the back post for his third strike in two games.

It was all over as a contest two minutes into the second half when John Reid gifted Sheridan Shelbourne's third goal with a stray pass.

Declan Geoghegan punished a further defensive lapse to add a fourth his brother would have appreciated on 69 minutes before Dave Smith completed the rout in the 85th minute.

It could have been six but for Eddie van Boxtel - he deprived Sheridan his second with a penalty save two minutes from the end.

Shelbourne: O'Brien; Smith, Scully, Neville, D Geoghegan; Vaudequin, Sheridan, Campbell, Fenlon, Rutherford; Baker. Subs: S Geoghegan for Vaudequin (32 mins), McCarthy for Scully (74), Flood for Fenlon (75).

Drogheda United: Van Boxtel; Hill, Carroll, J Reid, Fairclough; Fox, Ramage, Beggs, Coady; Irwin, Gilzean. Subs: Browne for Beggs (59), N Reid for J Reid (63).

Referee: P Dempsey (Dublin)