Dublin City - 0 Drogheda Utd - 1: It was far from entertaining but if Drogheda United are going to sustain a league title challenge this season then they will have to continue churning out important victories like this.

For 73 minutes at Dalymount Park last night they huffed and puffed as Dermot Keely's experienced Dublin City side did their best to frustrate their visitors. They couldn't hold out any longer.

Drogheda's strength in depth was shown to full effect as Glen Fitzpatrick came off the substitutes' bench to deliver his first goal for his new employers. He was perfectly positioned to collect a James Keddy slide-rule pass and poke the ball past the onrushing City goalkeeper Gary Rogers.

Goals were never likely to be plentiful in a clash between two sides that have shown defensive fortitude early in the new campaign. The only real chance of the first half came after 16 minutes when Drogheda's Declan O'Brien shot straight at Rogers from 12 yards.

Dublin reshuffled their defence at the interval as centre half Alan Keely, son of manager Dermot, was replaced by Gavin McDonnell. Drogheda began to look more threatening and four minutes after the restart Derek Tyrell unleashed a powerful strike which Rogers just about parried to safety.

The visitors' pressure finally told as Fitzpatrick swooped in predatory fashion to complete a good week for the Boynesiders after they qualified for the Setanta Sports Cup semi-finals with victory over Dungannon on Tuesday.

DUBLIN CITY: Rogers, Brennan, Doyle, Keely (McDonnell (45), Malcolm, McGill, Whelehan (Shiels 22), Collins (O'Donnell 56), Pender, McCarthy, Freeman

DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor, Shelley, Gartland, Gavin, Tyrell, Keegan, Lynch, Keddy, Robinson, Keegan, Barrett (Fitzpatrick 65).

Referee: Hugo Whoriskey (Meath)