LIMERICK virtually booked their place in the final of the National League Shield with a comfortable display that gave them a 3-1 lead after the first leg at United Park last night.

The most remarkable thing about this game was the sending off of Drogheda's John Reid and Limerick's player-manager Noel King just before half time after they had got involved in a fracas.

At this point Limerick were leading comfortably 2-0 with goals from Antonio Izzi, after 16 minutes, and Gareth Ryan in 30 minutes. Izzi put Limerick three up in the 70th minute, but Drogheda got a consolation score through substitute Darren Newman three minutes from time.