Drogheda United 3 Cobh Ramblers 0:CHAMPIONS DROGHEDA got off the mark thanks to this three-goal win at United Park. Once the Boynesiders hit the front early on the outcome was never in doubt.
With 16 minutes gone the home side were gifted their first league goal when goalkeeper James McCarthy spilled Paul Keegan's delivery from a corner on the left and Graham Gartland was on hand to stab the ball home.
Four minutes into the second half Joe Kendrick doubled Drogheda's advantage with a superb volley from Shane Guthrie's cross.
Drogheda made it three just after the hour mark when Ollie Cahill met Shane Robinson's cross to send a looping header over John Kearney for the simplest of goals.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Vilmunen, Kendrick, Gartland, Robinson (Baker 76), Hughes, Bates (O'Keeffe 71), Shelley, Byrne (Tambouras 87), Zayed, Keegan, Cahill.
COBH RAMBLERS: McCarthy, Coleman, Meade, Murray, Guthrie (Lally 68), Barrett (A Kearney 70), J Kearney, O'Neill, Cummins, Mulconry, Cambridge (Meade 60).
Referee: T Connolly (Dublin).
