Dundalk moved off the foot of the Premier Division table as they cruised to victory over neighbours Drogheda United at Oriel Park.
Drogheda started brightly without ever really threatening to hit the net, but they were put on the back foot in the 15th minute when Conor Kenna's blatant handball diverted Harpal Singh's cross away from danger.
Kenna was shown red and Chris Turner stepped up to dispatch the penalty past Steve Williams to score Dundalk's first goal of the season.
Singh enjoyed himself on the left flank against Gavin Whelan, and his cross in the 25th minute found Declan O'Brien in space outside the six-yard box, but the former Drogheda captain saw his header saved by Steve Williams.
Dundalk, and George O'Callaghan in particular, enjoyed the oceans of space available to them, and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead three minutes before the break.
O'Callaghan's lovely turn of feet allowed him to shift the ball out to Singh on the left, and the winger delivered a wicked cross, which just evaded Steve Williams to allow Darren Mansaram to bundle the ball home.
The game was put beyond doubt three minutes into the second-half. O'Brien latched on to Alan McNally's attempted backpass to race clear on goal. He skipped around Williams only to be brought to the ground. Turner stepped up to coolly send the Drogs net-minder the wrong way for the second time.
Drogheda offered little in attack and O'Brien almost brought the house down with a spectacular effort from 50-yards which rattled the post as the Lilywhites secured the early bragging rights in County Louth.
DUNDALK: Bennion; Heary, Burns (McGinlay, 50 mins), Rogers; Kelly, O'Callaghan, Daly (Barnett, 82 mins), Turner, Singh; Mansaram (Mulvenna, 75 mins), O'Brien.
DROGHEDA UTD: Williams; Whelan, McNally, McKenna, Clarke; Duffy (Farrell, 63 mins), Duggan (King, 53 mins), Shiels, Chambers, O'Connor (Ryan, 19 mins); Martin.
REFEREE: A Buttimer (Cork).
