Clancy feeling confident about Ballybofey trip

THIS Friday night’s assignment in Ballybofey looks like a difficult fixture for Drogheda United, but manager Tim Clancy is confident his team can pick up another three points against Finn Harps.

The surprise reverse away to Cabinteely remains the Boynesiders’ only league defeat this season after they went toe to toe with a powerful Shelbourne side and picked up a 1-1 draw last week, a result that keeps Drogheda second in the table.

Harps were the big movers at the weekend when snatching a 90th-minute winner in Longford to move within four points of Clancy’s men with a game in hand, but the Drogheda boss believes they weren’t convincing and were lucky to come away from the midlands with the victory.

‘I went to the game and I didn’t hear what Ollie said afterwards, but I would imagine he was relieved to get the win,’ said Clancy, speaking on Monday afternoon.

‘Longford had the bulk of the game, and although they fell behind in the sixth minute they equalised on the stroke of halftime and in the second half they had countless chances and with a bit more composure would have won the game.

‘Then they gifted Harps the winner in the 90th minute and that gives them a boost going into the game with us.

‘We know it will be tough and we know what they’re about physically, and they have some very good players as well.

‘But we’ve played everyone now and we’re ahead of where we thought we’d be. At the minute we’re sitting second in the table and not too many people would have predicted that at the start of the season.

‘But after the second round of games we could be sixth or seventh. Galway, Finn Harps, Longford, UCD and Shelbourne - they’re all good teams and there’s not a lot between them.

‘If we compete in every game we play and apply ourselves right, we’ll be up there with them come the end of the season.’

Luke Gallagher (groin strain) was expected to return to training last night after missing Drogheda’s last two games and Colm Deasy (dead leg) should be fit despite being substituted near the end of the Shelbourne match.

However, Lloyd Buckley (ankle) could be sidelined for another week after being taken off in last Tuesday’s 7-2 EA Sports Cup defeat at Tolka Park.

Clancy insisted he was right to change his entire starting XI for that game.

‘I’ve no regrets at all,’ he stated. ‘We sat down at the start of the season and committed to playing Under-19 players in the Leinster Senior and EA Sports cups because it gives us a chance to look at younger lads.

‘Eoin McPhillips did very well for us in Cobh and again in the Shels game, and then William [Hondermarck] came in and did well for us, and Sean Trimble did well too when he went to centre-back.’

Friday’s league encounter was a completely different game, with both teams at near full strength and fighting hard for precious league points.

‘Shels did well the other night and probably deserved to get their point,’ Clancy surmised.

‘I don’t think Paul Skinner had too many saves to make, although we dealt with a lot of balls in our box, but we didn’t test their keeper either.

‘We would have liked to have hung on for the win, but we didn’t feel aggrieved because Shels put us under a lot of pressure.’

Meanwhile, Drogheda’s away league fixture against Shelbourne, postponed from March 2nd, has now been rescheduled for the June bank holiday Monday, the 4th, with a 5pm kick-off.

I went to the game and I didn’t hear what Ollie said afterwards, but I would imagine he was relieved to get the win