MARCUS CAVAROLI
MEMORIES of Drogheda United’s last visit to Ferrycarrig Park are still fresh in the mind of Kevin Farragher and he’s hoping for a happier outcome when the Boynesiders make the trip to face Wexford this Friday night.
Pete Mahon’s charges looked to have blown their promotion hopes in November 2016 when inter-county footballer Lee Chin scored in stoppage time to give his side a two-goal cushion going into the second leg of their play-off decider.
But that was before Drogheda dramatically turned the tie around to nick a 3-2 aggregate victory and make an instant return to the Premier ranks.
Looking back, Farragher insists he hadn’t given up hope despite that disastrous first 90 minutes, and indeed he went on to score the equalising goal in the second leg before denying Wexford a lifeline with a goal-line clearance in stoppage time.
‘That play-off [first leg] actually didn’t go our way,’ he recalled. ‘I actually think we were the better side in that game and they got a very late goal, but we knew we were still in with a chance.
‘It was a great night two years ago [when Drogheda won promotion in the second leg], but I don’t know if they’re still hurting from it. A lot of their players have moved on since then.
‘We’re looking forward to it and hopefully we can go down there, be positive and try and win the game. Nobody has put two wins together yet, so we’ll try our best to do that.
‘But I think they beat Cabinteely on the opening day, so it’s going to be a difficult game.’
Farragher lined up alongside young Ciaran Kelly against Athlone and it proved a fruitful combination, with Drogheda keeping a clean sheet, Farragher claiming two assists and Kelly popping up with the final goal.
‘We’re delighted to get off to a winning start and I suppose get the first game in as well because it was a long time coming,’ Farragher reflected.
‘To get a clean sheet obviously, and to score six goals, we have to be happy and now we look forward to next Friday.’
Asked whether his long balls forward which resulted in two of the goals were deliberately placed, Farragher responded: ‘Of course!
‘I had a look and the runs were good. Doyle-r made a good run and Collie made a good run and they were lucky to get on the end of it and put them away.
‘But Athlone gave us a very tough first half, I have to say. We really didn’t play much football in the first half and they pressed us high and had a couple of half-chances themselves, so if they had nicked a goal it could have been a very different game.
‘That was the message at halftime. Two-nil is a tricky scoreline because if they get one then they’re back in it, but we knew a third one would kill them off and luckily enough we got it and went on from there.
‘Ciaran [Kelly] has been great so far and he got a goal as well. I think he got one in pre-season too, so he’s a threat in both boxes really, is good in the air and if he keeps going the way he is he will make a very, very good player. He’s slotted in very, very well.’
As for Farragher’s own ambitions for 2018, he wants to put behind him a frustrating year in which he spent long spells kicking his heels on the subs bench.
‘Last year wasn’t great at all for myself,’ he agreed. ‘I was unfortunate at the start. For whatever reason I wasn’t in the team and then I had my injuries as well, but when I played I felt I did well.
‘So I’m hoping to play a lot more games this year and get back to my best.
‘It’s been excellent so far - very enjoyable. We’re just trying to do things right and there’s a good buzz about the place, everyone’s working hard and that’s all you can ask.
‘We’ve a young squad here, so we’re just trying to play decent football and be competitive and see where it takes us.’