Drogheda Utd - 1 Waterford Utd - 0: Drogheda United ensured qualification for Europe and a defence of the Setanta Cup with this hard-fought victory over a dogged Waterford side who belied their position at the bottom of the table.

Following a scoreless opening half the home side hit the front just short of the hour mark and controlled matters to the final whistle.

Shane Barrett created the opening for Drogheda's top scorer Declan O'Brien who guided his header home.

Drogheda goalkeeper Dan Connor had to be on his toes early on to turn Alan Cawley's wind-assisted free-kick from 30 yards over the bar.

At the other end defender Patrick O'Flynn's back-pass put his goalkeeper Ben Spicer in trouble as he was forced to race from his line to reach the ball. However, his clearance rebounded off the in rushing Glen Fitzpatrick and flew narrowly wide.

With 11 minutes gone another Cawley free from slightly closer in troubled Drogheda again as the ball wasn't far off target.

Shane Barrett raced in on goal at the other end minutes later but Spicer was alert enough to make the block.

With 26 minutes gone the home side went close to breaking the deadlock when O'Brien raced on to a defensive clearance to scoop the ball over Spicer but wide of the target.

Nine minutes from half-time Waterford won a corner on the left which Cawley swung in to the box. The ball was cleared back to Cawley whose strike was tipped to safety by Connor.

The second half was only three minutes old when Barrett raced down the left and cut into the box only to fire his shot well over the bar. With 59 minutes on the watch Drogheda took the lead when Barrett crossed for O'Brien who sent his header to the top corner of the net.

DROGHEDA: Connor, Lynch, Gray, Gavin, Gartland, Robinson, Whelan, O'Brien, Fitzpatrick (Ristila, 87 mins), Keegan, Barrett.

WATERFORD: Spicer, O'Flynn, Hedderman, Keeley, Browne, Hayes (Reynolds, 63 mins), Chambers, Kavanagh, Brosnan (McCarthy, Half-time), Cawley (Pender, 50), McCarthy.

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).