Mahon annoyed by Dundalk behaviour
against Donegal last Saturday, where he picked up a knock.
‘I didn’t want Graham playing today, I didn’t want Ben Brennan playing against Donegal on Saturday,’ a clearly angry Nally said.
‘I put a call in, I asked the lads not to play, it was against my wishes that they played and against the club’s wishes that they played. I don’t think they should have played.
‘Without doubt the lads should have been with the club for the last few weeks. We all know what Graham Reilly can do and Ben Brennan is our captain and they are going to be pivotal to what we do next week. They weren’t there for our preparations and I think that is wrong. Something could have been done about it, but it wasn’t done. one.
‘I don’t think they should have beenI don’t playing, ayn’t think Graham should have been playing today. I think there is too muchh demands on the lad. Ben came on against Donegal and got a kick on the head. He has a big lump on the side of his head. I didn’t want him there. ‘If you dondon’tt knknow what Graham ReReilly can do at ththis stage, at 27 years of ageage, I can’t undunderstand ththe reason fofor him pplaying O’Byrne Cup. ‘I know BeBen Brennan nanBrennan is new and trying to make a breakthrough, through,breakthrough, but preparing paringpreparing a teateam for an All-Ireland semi-ffinal, our preparations weren’t ideal because of that. ‘I was even told that I would have them back for training this morning (Sunday), but that changed last week and I won’t have them back now until tomorrow. They have two days to train with us.’
It is customary that players involved in the latter stages of the All-Ireland club championship be excused from the pre-season tournaments and even the NFL, until they are finished their involvement with the club. Even Louth boss Colin Kelly expressed his surprise that Reilly was in the Meath line-up.
The rest of the squad has been back training since the end of December and are looking forward to the challenge on Sunday.
‘We had to taper our training for a month, we gave them a month off, and then from the end of for one season, before he returned home and had a short spell with Shelbourne before leaving by mutual consent.
Asked about Elliott’s time at Tolka Park, Mahon responded: ‘It was a clash of managers, which happens in football. Stephen had been a professional all his life and he expected things to be done differently.
‘He came up to us twice to have a look at us, he told me the kind of person he was and money wasn’t even mentioned, and that was a breath of fresh air to me - straightaway I wanted to sign him.
‘He knows a few of the lads, December we have gone hell for leather. We also played two challenge games,’ Nally continued.
‘We were happy enough with our last challenge game the pace we were at. You’re trying to squeeze everything into four or five weeks, so that’s a bit tough.
‘The lads know what to expect. It will be a very tough match. We have had a good look at Pomeroy, we have studied the videos. They are a really good team, they play an aggressive brand of football, dropping everyone behind the ball and breaking at pace. They sort of bring it to you.
‘We have done a bit of work and had to tweak how we play a little bit. To see if we can add something to what we do, something different. So that is what we have been and his level of fitness surprised me as well. He still has the hunger to score goals and he was very impressed with what he has seen at the club to date.’
Drogheda will continue their pre-season preparations after the Drogheda Town game with a friendly away to Ballinamallard United next Tuesday night (7.45pm), and the club are hoping to arrange another friendly with Pat Fenlon’s Waterford FC on Monday February 13th - either side of two games in Wexford on the 3rd and 4th and the Leinster Senior Cup match away to UCD on the 17th. working on for the past four weeks.
‘At the minute a few lads are carrying knocks, but everyone has their hand up to train. If everyone get through training Tuesday and Thursday we’ll have everyone.
‘This is a massive game not only for the Cille’s but Meath as well. How often is it that a club or county gets to a national semi-final. You are representing your parish, your club, your county, your province. It is a massive match,’ Nally concluded.
The game clashes directly with Louth’s O’Byrne Cup Final at the Gaelic Grounds and as a result Nally will be absent from the sideline against the Dubs. However, if he can steer the Cille’s to an All-Ireland final in Croke Park it will be well worth it.