League Playoff Final: Bray Wanderers 1 - 3 Drogheda United

The celebrations can truly begin for Drogheda United after they eased past Bray Wanderers to preserve their Premier Division status at Tallaght Stadium.

A goal from James Bolger and two excellent finishes from Frantz Pierrot dispelled any doubts of an FAI Cup final hangover as the Boynesiders took care of business and condemned Bray to a seventh successive campaign in the First Division.

Drogheda are going on a European tour, and with it will come Premier Division football for a fifth year in a row.

Two goals in four first-half minutes took the game away from Bray. Bolger opened the scoring in the 32nd minute before a classy backheel flick from Pierrot doubled the advantage.

A clinical finish from Pierrot made it three five minutes after the break, and they saw out the game comfortably after a Harry Groome screamer gave Bray a glimmer of hope just after the hour mark.

Bray started the game well and will wonder whether the outcome might have been different had Darren Craven or Cristian Magerusan taken either of their early chances.

However, Drogheda always looked like scoring, with Pierrot going close on three occasions. He snatched at a Conor Kane cross in the third minute before Kane split the Bray defence to set up Pierrot, who dragged his effort across goal.

The Haiti international was unfortunate to see a Douglas James-Taylor shot rebound off him and go wide, but Drogs soon got the goal they had been threatening.

Bray felt aggrieved as Douglas James-Taylor appeared to handle the ball before cushioning it for Bolger to fire home from the edge of the area.

Pierrot delivered a double blow to the Seagulls as he darted across the front post to backheel-flick Darragh Markey’s cross home.

The champagne that had been put on ice after Sunday might have been popping again in the East Stand, but Bray still posed a threat.

Luke Dennison produced a superb stop to deny a rocket from Magerusan creeping inside his near post before the break.

Elicha Ahui carried his excellent cup final form into this game, whipping in a delightful cross from the byline to Pierrot, who headed onto the post just after the restart.

Pierrot ended the day with a brace, but he could have had five. After notching his 12th goal of the season, he made it a lucky 13 as he and Markey combined again in the 50th minute.

The Haiti international volleyed brilliantly across Jimmy Corcoran to put Drogheda three up, prompting wild celebrations.

With just over an hour played, a 25-yard drive from Groome gave the Seagulls a glimmer of hope entering the final third of the game.

However, Drogheda saw out the match comfortably, with Dennison producing a fine save late on to deny Magerusan from setting up a grandstand finish.

The celebrations kicked off in the packed East Stand, and after being forced to curtail their cup final party, Kevin Doherty and the Drogheda fans can revel in a double celebration as they make the trip back up the M1.