Two Paul Keegan goals and one from Stuart Byrne helped Drogheda cruise past SP Libertas in tonight's UEFA Cup first qualifying round second leg tie at Dalymount Park.
The eircom League leaders had it all their own way against the amateurs from San Marino and await news on today’s draw for the next stage with great interest.
Any nerves in the home camp were quickly dispelled as Drogheda edged 2-1 in front on aggregate in the 12th minute, following an uneventful opening from both sides.
Sami Ristila used all his European experience as he held up the ball just outside the Libertas penalty area before releasing to Paul Keegan. And the former Leeds United player, making the most of a rare start, sent a rocket 25-yard shot to the top corner of the net, even though keeper Michele Ceccoli got an out-stretched hand to the ball.
Home supporters might have expected the floodgates to open even at this early stage, but a combination of ineffective attacking play and dogged defending ensured a relatively quiet first half for San Marino international keeper Ceccoli.
Eamon Zayed somehow glanced Simon Webb's near-post cross wide from inside the six-yard area in the 17th minute, and Keddy should have done better with another close-range header.
Two strong claims by Drogheda for penalty kicks also went unrewarded, both seemingly legitimate shouts for handball, and so the tie remained in the balance heading into the second 45 minutes.
Whatever lingering doubts remained about the result quickly disappeared on the resumption as the Boynesiders struck twice in quick succession.
Keegan doubled his personal tally in the 49th minute with a cool finish after a slick four-man passing move involving Stuart Byrne, Robinson and the hard-working Zayed.
Skipper Byrne got on the scoresheet in the 60th minute when he rose unchallenged in the six-yard area to plant a header beyond Ceccoli from Robinson's corner.
With the tie safely in the bag and an important league match coming up against Bray on Monday, the Drogs not surprisingly took their foot off the pedal after that, allowing their opponents a couple of half chances, but keeper Dan Connor remained a virtual spectator and Drogheda eased into today's second qualifying round draw with ease.
Drogheda United: Connor, Shelley, Tambouras, Gartland, Webb, Robinson, Keegan, Byrne, Keddy, Zayed, Ristila.
Subs: Baker for Robinson 62min, Bradley for Byrne 64min, O'Keeffe for Keddy 76min.
SP Libertas: Ceccoli, Gazzi, Sottili, Cevoli, Valentini, Macerata, Santini, Tarini, Semprini (Pari 61min), Nanni, Fambri.
Subs: Pari for Semprini 61min, Toccaceli for Nanni 79min, Angelini for Santini 90min.
