Bohemians 1 Drogheda United 4:TIARNÁN MULVENNA scored a hat-trick as Drogheda United put the gloss on their remarkable season to secure second place in the Premier Division table, adding to their League Cup success and qualification for Europe.

Showing their intent from the start, skipper Paul Crowley and Ryan Brennan, twice, had openings before Mick Cooke’s side’s early pressure told on 23 minutes. A long-range one-two between Mulvenna and Seán Brennan opened Bohemians up, with the former racing through to sweep home his first goal of the night.

Bohemians responded, pushing Evan McMillan up into attack as they switched to a 4-3-3, twice coming close to equalising.

Drogheda keeper Gabriel Sava got down well to stop a Dinny Corcoran effort from Andy Mulligan’s near post cross. McMillan’s flick then put Mulligan in behind with his left-foot volley flashing narrowly wide.

But it was Drogheda that doubled their lead on 44 minutes. Mulvenna, who minutes earlier missed the proverbial sitter, drilled home from close range from a Stephen Quigley cross.

A mistake by Sava gave Bohemians a goal back two minutes into added time when McMillan drove the ball to the net.

Drogheda laid siege to the Bohemians goal on the resumption and got a third goal when central defender Alan McNally stooped to head home Philip Hand’s corner.

Keith Ward hit a post with a free-kick for Bohemians before Mulvenna completed his hat-trick six minutes later, stabbing the ball home after Murray spilled a cross from John Sullivan. Sadly, Mulvenna was taken off on a stretcher on 88 minutes with a leg injury.

BOHEMIANS: Murray, Heary, McMillan, Feely, Barker, Buckley, Pender, McEvoy, Mulligan (Moore, h/t), Traynor (Ward, h/t), Corcoran (Scully, 76 mins.).

DROGHEDA UNITED: Sava; Quigley, McNally, Prendergast (Marks, 86 mins), Hand, Gannon (Sullivan, 24 mins), Byrne, R Brennan, Crowley, S Brennan, Mulvenna (Breen 88 mins).

Referee: Damien Hancock(Dublin).