St Patrick's remained on course for a UEFA Cup spot following a comfortable victory at United Park last night but they didn't have it all their own way over the 90 minutes.

The home side enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges but with 12 minutes gone an ambitious overhead kick by striker Alan Murphy failed to trouble goalkeeper Trevor Woods.

And almost immediately Drogheda United had another opportunity, this time with Greg O'Dowd flashing a shot wide of the far post following a neat one-two between John Butler and Colm Murphy.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play. With 18 minutes gone a Barry Prenderville cross from the right was met at the near post by Trevor Molloy and his shot in off the underside of the crossbar gave Drogheda goalkeeper Gareth Byrne no chance. The visitors doubled their lead 13 minutes before the break through Ger McCarthy. Robbie McGuinness added the third on the stroke of full-time.

Drogheda United: G Byrne; McNulty, Shevlin, Impey, Maher, Butler, McDonald, C Murphy, A Murphy, O'Dowd, Foley. Subs: Cronin for McDonald (half-time); McCann for Butler (77 mins).

St Patrick's Athletic: Wood; Burke, Byrne, McGuinness, Hawkins, Osam, Gormley, Prenderville, Molloy, McCarthy, McNevin. Subs: Crolly for McNevin (66 mins); R McGuinness for Burke (74 mins); Drew for McCarthy (90 mins).

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).