Dungannon Swifts 0 Drogheda United 4:SETANTA CUP holders Drogheda United coasted to victory at Stangmore Park last night. First-half strikes from Tony Grant and Graham Gartland, and an Adam McMinn own goal in the second, made it a comfortable evening for Paul Doolin's side.

Drogheda captain Declan O'Brien celebrated his return from injury with a fourth in the closing stages.

The League of Ireland champions were always in control and it took them less than four minutes to go in front, Grant sliding the ball past advancing goalkeeper Dwayne Nelson from Paul Keegan's precise pass.

The home side failed to get a single shot on goal, and fell further behind 10 minutes before half-time. The Dungannon defence failed to pick up Drogheda's central defensive pair as Joe Kendrick floated in a free kick from the left, and when Jason Gavin headed across goal, Gartland poked home at the far post.

Paul Doolin's men were sitting pretty on a 2-0 lead at the break, and Dungannon manager Harry Fay introduced Austin Friel for the second half in a desperate attempt to ignite his side's attack.

But it all went horribly wrong for the Tyrone men in the 66th minute when Adam McMinn's unfortunate own goal put the game beyond reach, the ball cannoning off his knee past the helpless Nelson.

By now, Drogheda had Declan O'Brien and Shane Barrett in the action following long lay-offs through injury, and despite the lively efforts of Friel, Dungannon never looked like forcing their way back into contention.

O'Brien celebrated his return after 11 months out of action with a superbly-taken fourth goal four minutes from the end, applying a sweet finish to Richie Baker's neat approach work on the right.

DUNGANNON SWIFTS:Nelson, Fitzpatrick, Curran, McMinn, Gallagher (S Ferry), McConkey, McCarron (A Friel), Hegarty, Tomelty, Murphy, McAllister (S McGerrigan).

DROGHEDA:Ewings, Shelley, Gavin (Byrne), Gartland, Cahill, Baker, Keegan, Hughes, Kendrick, Grant (Barrett), O'Keefe (O'Brien).

Referee:B Turkington.