A dominant performance by midfielder Eddie Gormley, who scored two goals and made the third, secured Premier Division safety for Bray Wanderers as they accounted for Monaghan United at Century Homes Park on Saturday night.
Wanderers threatened to sweep Monaghan - already relegated - aside when they took a fifth-minute lead. Gormley supplied the finish after Paul Keegan's low cross.
Only a point-blank save from Mark Gregg denied Darren McKenna an equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
Monaghan were severely punished for a foul on Jason Byrne on the edge of the penalty area in the 69th minute.
Gormley drove the free-kick through a badly organised defensive wall and past goalkeeper Fred Davis for Bray's second.
Gormley turned provider in the 76th minute, exposing Monaghan's half-hearted attempt to play offside with a pass that afforded Byrne a straight-forward finish.
MONAGHAN UNITED: Davis, Murphy, McCarville, White, McDonnell, Field, Lester, Shiels, O'Callaghan, McKenna, King. Subs: O'Connor for McDonnell (80 mins), O'Brien for King (80 mins), Scopes for O'Callaghan (80 mins).
BRAY WANDERERS: Gregg, Farrell, Lynch, Doohan, Britton, Tresson, Gormley, Keogh, O'Connor, Byrne, Keegan. Subs: Forsyth for Farrell (78 mins), Morgan for O'Connor (82 mins), Doyle for Byrne (82 mins).
Referee: E Barr (Dublin).
