Drogs stay up, Fingal to face Bray

League of Ireland play-off review: Drogheda United will remain in the League of Ireland's Premier Division after a comfortable 2-0 win over Bray Wanderers at United Park this evening.

The homeside dominated throughout but only took he lead after an hour when James Chambers broke the deadlock with a superbly executed free kick.

United made the game safe eight minutes from time when Guy Bates ghosted past a couple of challenges on the right before sliding the ball through to Ross Gaynor, whose shot come back off the post to allow Brian King to rattle the second home.

Bray’s miserable night was complete a minute later when John Mulroy was sent off for a second bookable offence but their fate is no sealed yet.

They will face Sporting Fingal at Morton Stadium in the first leg of a play-off on Friday after the FAI Cup finalists condemned Shelbourne to a third season in the First Division, thanks to goals from Eamon Zayed and Shaun Williams.

The return leg will be at Carlisle Grounds on Monday.

After a bright Shels start yielded nothing, they were blown away by two superb goals shortly before half-time.

The opener, on 39 minutes, was a gem and came after Gary O’Neill turned Alan Keely inside out to cut in and cross for Zayed, who volleyed sublimely first time to the net.

Within two minutes Williams punished further poor defending to advance unchallenged and drill a left-foot strike into the bottom left corner from 20 yards.

Shelbourne laid siege to the Sporting goal and were rewarded with a penalty on 72 minutes, when David Cassidy went down under a challenge from Stephen Paisley

David McAllister stepped up and fired his shot under the body of Darren Quigley, who initially looked to have stopped it. Anthony Flood was then shown a second yellow for pushing Quigley over when trying to retrieve the ball and the Shels challenge fizzled out.

Premier League play offs

Drogheda United 2 Bray Wanderers 0

Shelbourne 1 Sporting Fingal 2