Drogheda United 1 Galway United 0:DROGHEDA JUST about saw off a dogged Galway side who fielded without a manager and a number of regulars in a disappointing game at United Park last night.

The only goal came after 17 minutes when Aidan O'Keeffe broke clear on the right onto Jason Gavin's clearance. Gary Rogers sprinted from his line but O'Keeffe deftly knocked the ball past him and crossed for Eamon Zayed who drove the ball to the empty net.

The home side should have at least doubled their lead before the break primarily due to the exploits of O'Keeffe who was making his first start of the season. He won a free just outside the box in the latter part of the half that Paul Keegan drove over the wall forcing Rogers into a fingertip save. Then just before the interval O'Keeffe slipped past the visitors' shaky defence but his shot lacked real power and Rogers saved.

The best Galway could muster in the first half was a Wes Charles header just short of the half-hour mark which keeper Mikko Vilmunen dealt with comfortably.

Galway caused a couple of anxious moments in the home defence in the third quarter. Firstly Mark Leech had the Drogheda back line chasing shadows before getting a shot in which Vilmunen saved and almost immediately John Russell drove into the side-netting.

However, Drogheda managed to keep the visitors at bay to secure three much-needed points.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Vilmunen, Kendrick (Baker, 71 mins), Gavin, Gartland, Robinson, Shelley, Byrne, Zayed, Keegan, O'Keeffe (Grant, 82 mins), Cahill.

GALWAY UNITED: Rogers, Nooitmeer, McCulloch (Keane, 30 mins), Fitzgerald, Charles, Foley (Fenn, 90 mins), O'Shea (Faherty, 79 mins), Deegan, Leech, Russell, O'Brien.

Referee: H Whoriskey (Meath)