Shelbourne ... 0 Drogheda Utd ... 1Andy Myler, with a second-half penalty, maintained Drogheda's hopes of avoiding the play-off place as they finished with 10-men in an intriguing game at Tolka Park last night.

Referee Jimmy O'Neill controversially sent off Drogheda striker Declan O' Brien for an apparent dive two minutes into the second half, his second bookable offence.

Six minutes later O'Neill redeemed himself in Drogheda's eyes by awarding them a pretty obvious penalty when Jim Crawford clumsily took Stuart Taylor down from behind. Andy Myler sent Steve Williams the wrong way for what proved the winning goal.

Drogheda must now beat St Patrick's Athletic at home on Sunday and look for a favour from either Bohemians or Cork City in their respective games with Derry City and UCD.

Admirably, considering they had nothing to play for, Shelbourne played to win and they might have been 2-0 up before Drogheda realised they were in a game they simply had to win.

Jim Gannon was guilty of a dreadful miss when heading an Ollie Cahill cross wide on seven minutes before Alan Murphy shot over.

Drogheda's goal lived a charmed life again on 27 minutes. Paul Beavers hit a shot that took a deflection before Neil Bennett got a touch to push the ball onto the crossbar.

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Doherty, Gannon, Crawley; Cahill, D Byrne, Crawford, R Baker for Ross (33 mins); Beavers for D Baker (74 mins), Murphy for Sheridan (60 mins).

DROGHEDA UNITED: Bennett; Todd, Lynch, Gray; O'Connor, Taylor, Tierney, Dempsey for Cronin (83 mins), Kelly; O'Brien, Myler for Quinless (72 mins).

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford).