Drogs boss urges his players to keep focus
PETE Mahon is reluctant to look any further than Fridayy night’s First Division Playoff second leg against Cobh Ramblers (7.45pm) but admits Drogheda United now have a wonderful opportunity to secure an immediate return to the top flight.
Having bagged a 2-0 lead from the away leg in Cobh last Saturday, the Boynesiders are hot favourites - to progress to next week’sek’s Premier/First Division deciderder against Wexford Youths, wherehere they would again have home advantage in the second leg.
‘Looking at it realistically, we are 2-0 up playing at home and if we win we have Wexford with the second leg at home, so we couldn’t ask for any more than that,’ enthused the Drogheda manager, speaking on Tuesday afternoon.
‘There was not much really happening in Cobh for the first half-hour, but then we got a grip on things and played very well. It was the first time we had played in front of a big crowd away from home this season, with the possible exception of Limerick, and I told them that if we go up to the Premier Division then we’ll be facing crowds like that in Oriel Park and Richmond Park and need to be able to handle that.
‘We got a taste for it and did very well, but we have achieved nothing yet.’
Mindful that one Cobh goal would change the whole complexion of the tie, Mahon insisted Drogheda wouldn’t be taking anything for granted, and he called on the people of Drogheda to come out in force and support the team.
It’s the old cliché - it’s only half-time - and the next goal is crucial and we will be going all out to get that on Friday.
‘We want to try to get a goal - it would be nice to be able to relax for once!
‘Cobh had nearly 2,000 at the game on Saturday and I would be very disappointed if we didn’t get something like that. There was a good crowd for the UCD game, it wwas a good game and I think pepeople liked what they saw.
‘SSo I hope that a few people plepeople who haven’t been at UnUnited Park for a while will gget up there on Friday nnight.’
Away goals don’t ccount double in the pplay-offs and in the event oof the scores being level on aggregate after 90 minminutes on Friday, then extra time will be played, followed lowedfollowed by a penalty shootout if necessarnecessary.
But MaMahon is hoping it won’t come dodown to that, and with a view to next week - the winners of the First Division play-off will be away to Wexford on Monday and at home the following Friday - he was at Ferrycarrig Park last week to see Wexford Youths and Finn Harps share a 0-0 draw. The Youths’ subsequent 5-0 defeat away to Cork City on Monday confirmed their place in the promotion/relegation play-off.
‘If we do end up playing Wexford, that will be an indication of where we are at for next season,’ added Mahon.
‘That’s not being negative. We will be battling down there in the bottom half of the table, and if we don’t get through that game then it shows that we’re not ready for the Premier Division.’
Gareth McCaffrey, who has been in a rich vein of form since joining the Drogs on loan from Shamrock Rovers, has a calf strain and John McKeown (hip) is also a doubt, but the likelihood is that both players will be available for the Cobh game. However, Sean Brennan isn’t available as he serves the final match of his suspension.
Meanwhile, Mahon has begun the process of putting a squad together for next season and has already secured six players, with talks with four more expected to be completed within the next 36 hours.
The manager wouldn’t be drawn on which players he has tied down, but confirmed that they had agreed to stay whatever division Drogheda find themselves in next season. DROGHEDA United chairman Fiachra Kierans has praised travelling supporters for what he called their ‘exemplary behaviour’ amid violent scenes at the end of Saturday’s match in Cobh.
Missiles were hurled at the height of the trouble and several Drogheda fans had to be checked over by Order of Malta personnel before boarding their bus to return home.
Around 100 Drogs supporters were in the crowd of