Drogheda United - 0 Shelbourne - 1:National League Premier Division: A solitary Jason Byrne strike 11 minutes into the second half proved enough to enable league leaders Shelbourne take all three points from an entertaining encounter at O2 Park last night.

Shelbourne dominated the opening half, however, they couldn't break down a wellorganised Drogheda defence and, despite taking the lead early in the second half, had to endure some nervous moments before securing the win.

It wasn't until the half-hour mark that Shelbourne created their first clear-cut opening.

Ollie Cahill's dangerous cross from the left was nicked from the toe of Stephen Geoghegan by defender Liam Jones just as the Shelbourne striker was about to slot the ball home.

Drogheda then went close on 38 minutes when, from Stephen Gray's left-wing cross, Andy Myler poked the ball narrowly wide from six yards.

And, five minutes from the whistle, Gary Cronin's 30-yard piledriver flew just the wrong side of the Shelbourne post.

With just a minute remaining in the half, the visitors should have taken the lead when Stuart Byrne headed wide from Wes Hoolihan's cross.

However, with 56 minutes gone, Shelbourne grabbed what proved to be the winner when, after a dreadful error by home striker Ciarán Quinn, Hoolihan picked the ball up just inside the Drogheda half.

He fed Jason Byrne who raced clear of the defence to lift the ball over the advancing Gary Rogers.

Drogheda had a couple of penalty claims turned down by referee John McDermott, the clearest of which appeared to be when Tony McCarthy held back Andy Myler in the box on the hour mark.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Rogers; Gray, Molloy, Lynch, Jones, Scully, Cronin, Quinless, Quinn, Myler, Tierney. Subs: Gallagher for Quinn (64); Flanagan for Molloy (81); Kelly for Cronin (84).

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Rogers, McCarthy, Harris, Crawford, Cahill, Byrne S, Byrne J, Geoghegan, Hoolihan. Subs: Rowe for Geoghegan (72).

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).