Drogheda United ... 0 Shamrock Rovers ... 2In a real smash-and-grab effort Shamrock Rovers snatched the three points with a goal in each half against the run of play at O2 Park last evening.

Shane Robinson gave the Hoops the lead with a cracking goal midway through the first half and Rovers sealed all three points when Robinson turned provider for Steven Grant just eight minutes from the end.

Rovers took the lead against the run of play on 23 minutes when Molloy hooked the ball from the centre circle into the path of Robinson.

Robinson controlled it on his chest and from at least 25 yards out rifled the ball to the top corner of the net.

Drogheda came close to equalising seven minutes from half-time when Andy Myler's header from a Dempsey corner was blocked on the goal-line by a Rovers defender.

The ball was returned quickly into the box and Chris Todd somehow missed a tap-in from five yards.

With 43 minutes on the clock Drogheda had the ball in the net when Declan O'Brien scored from close range.

However, his effort was ruled out for an earlier infringement by Stewart Taylor.

Drogheda threw everything at Rovers in the second half but just could not find an equaliser. Just beyond the hour mark a Dempsey header sent O'Brien through the centre of the Rovers defence.

He tried to lift the ball over Horgan in the Rovers goal. However, the visitors' goalkeeper did brilliantly to turn the ball away to safety.

With 20 minutes remaining, United went close once more when, from Dempsey's left-wing cross, Taylor's 16 yard strike grazed the Rovers crossbar.

That vital second goal that clinched the points arrived on 82 minutes.

Robinson crossed from the right and the Drogheda goalkeeper hesitated momentarily, allowing Steven Grant to nip-in and prod the ball home from close range.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Rogers, O'Connor, Gray, Lynch, Todd, Kelly, Tierney, Taylor, O'Brien, Myler, Dempsey. Subs: Delaney for Myler (77 mins), Cronin for Kelly (84 mins), Dunne for Tierney (90).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Horgan, Gough, Keddy, Colwell, Palmer, Byrne, Robinson, Molloy, Hunt , Dimech, S Grant. Subs: T Grant for Molloy (20 mins); Costello for Dimech (70); Tracey for T Grant (80).

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).

Shelbourne's game against Longford Town, scheduled for Tolka Park last night, was called off because of a waterlogged pitch.