Drogheda United got their defence of the Setanta Cup off to a winning start this evening, but not without being given a real scare by the competition newcomers Cliftonville at United Park.

The homeside needed an Eamon Zayed brace, a Richie Baker strike and some generous refereeing at the death to secure the points, after stunning strikes from Cliftonville's Francis Murphy and Mark Holland kept them in the game.

In the night's other game Cork City had a first brace from George O'Callaghan to thank for their 2-0 win in Dungannon.

Cliftonville could have taken a shock lead after early dominance from Drogheda, when John Martin's run down the right ended with a shot that cannoned off the face of stand-in goalkeeper Mikko Vilmunen

Drogheda controlled most of the half, however, and threatened down the right through Brian Shelley and Richie Baker, in particular.

Had Brian Keegan and Tony Grant been cooler within sight of goal they may well have put their side into the lead but, as usual, it was left to Zayed to make the difference with a 40th minute header.

Baker's short corner to Shelley was beautifully clipped in by the right back and invited Zayed to rise and glance it into the far corner well out of the reach of John Connolly in the Cliftonville goal.

Drogheda were slow off the mark after the break and had to be stung into action by a brilliant 22-yard free-kick from Murphy after Martin was taken down.

The homeside immediately went in search of the advantage again and were denied in the 63rd minute by Connolly when he tipped Baker's downward header over in the 63rd minute.

Guy Bates, on for the injured Grant, tested Connolly but it was through Baker that Drogheda restored their lead in the 74th minute.

Not for the first time the diminutive winger won a back post header which Zayed failed to control but succeeded in redirecting to Baker, who smashed the ball in to the roof of the net from six yards out.

Zayed's 86th minute header looked to have secured the points for Drogheda but that was immediately in doubt when Holland struck a sweet left foot volley past Vilmunen a minute later.

The visitors tasted blood at this stage saw David McAlinden twice denied off the line before the defender shot his third attempt wide.

Ronan Scannell was then denied what looked a certain penalty after he beat Vilmunen to ball at the death but his appeals were waved away by the referee.