First test of pre-season for Clancy’s Drogheda

DROGHEDA United’s new squad go straight into the proverbial lion’s den this week as they begin their run of pre-season games with the visit of Bohemians tonight (Tuesday, 7.45pm).

Bohs’ visit is followed by a trip to Oriel Park on Saturday (kick-off 5pm) to face a Dundalk team coming to terms with the momentous news of their takeover by US consortium Peak6.

It’s a tough challenge for the First Division club to play two such matches in four days, but assistant manager Kevin Doherty is happy that the Boynesiders are testing themselves against quality Premier opposition, with Derry City and Bray Wanderers also included in the schedule before the Drogs host Finn Harps in their league opener on February 23rd.

Speaking on Monday afternoon, the former Shels boss said: ‘The reality is that you don’t really play teams in your own league in pre-season, although Shelbourne are playing Galway in a friendly and that’s a bit strange.

‘When you’re playing Premier teams there will be a lot of time when you don’t have the ball, and we would rather test ourselves against the better teams to see what work we still have to do.

‘The Bohemians game is a learning curve for us to see where we are and we want to put a bit of shape on the team, but it’s very positive so far. It’s been good and the lads have been great in training. We have worked them hard and they seem to be enjoying it.

‘The core of that group have been together for a couple of years and they know each other’s games, which is a good thing.

‘I wouldn’t say they are sick of training, but this is the time of year you look for and they are chomping at the bit to play. It’s great the games are starting and I’m looking forward to it.’

Tim Clancy’s assistant reported a clean bill of health for the Bohemians game, subject to the squad coming through Monday night training in Ashbourne unscathed.

A number of trialists will feature against Bohs, together with the 13 players already on Drogheda’s books, and it will be a similar story against Dundalk in the traditional pre-season Jim Malone Cup game, although the match wasn’t played last pre-season due to fixture congestion caused by the Lilywhites’ run to the Europa League group stage at the end of 2016.

Dundalk are due to begin their run of pre-season games against Cabinteely tonight before hosting the Drogs at the weekend.

Drogheda’s pre-season continues on Friday week with a trip to face Derry City, followed on Friday February 10th by the visit of Bray Wanderers.

Their opponents in the upcoming Leinster Senior Cup aren’t yet known, but the likelihood is that it will be Bangor Celtic from the Leinster Senior League and that match could take place a week before the league opener at home to Finn Harps on Feb 24th.