Drogheda Utd 6 Mayfield Utd 1:DROGHEDA UNITED eased into the last 16 with a comprehensive victory over a Mayfield side who played second fiddle to their more illustrious opponents from start to finish.

Drogheda scored after 10 minutes when Peter Hynes’ overhead kick resulted in goalkeeper Seán Winters carrying the ball over his own line.

A second followed from a Declan O’Brien shot from 25 yards and the third arrived right at the end of the half when Gavin Brennan finished in style.

Mayfield’s cause wasn’t helped when they were reduced to 10 men on 71 minutes when Stephen Hurley was shown a straight red.

But the visitors showed great spirit to pull a goal back three minutes later when Greg Kelly nipped in between two defenders to head home. Drogheda, however, were in no mood to ease off the gas as Johnny Breen struck for a late hat-trick in a blistering spell.

DROGHEDA UTD: Sava, Hand, Prendergast, McNally, Brady (Marshall 53 minutes), G Brennan (S Brennan h-t), Hynes (Breen 63 minutes), Crowley, Gannon, O’Brien, Foley.

MAYFIELD: Winters, E Fleming (McBride 60), Roddis, Kiely, Wolfe, I Fleming, Kelly, O’Shea, Finn (Hurley 66 minutes), Warren (Buckley 77 minutes), Grainger.

Referee: N Doyle (Dublin).