Pitch at United Park among best in land
THE pitch at United Park has long been renowned as one of the best and now its quality has been officially recognised after Drogheda United made the shortlist for SSE Airtricity League Pitch of the Year.
FAI pitch consultant Richard Hayden of Hayden Turfcare) is visiting the three nominated grounds - United Park, Shamrock Rovers’ Tallaght Stadium and Waterford’s RSC - before a decision is made on the overall winner in the coming days.
Whether or not Drogheda win, head groundsman Matt Kavanagh is pleased that his team’s efforts are being recognised.
‘Even to get nominated is great,’ he said, speaking last week after the competing clubs were announced.
‘The last time we were nominated - I think Galway won the overall award that year - was when Paul Doolin was manager and it was the referees who put the grounds forward and I’m not sure if it’s still the same.
‘The other two pitches are being kept by the local county council, so I’m not sure if that will favour us.’
Matt has had plenty of help over the years. Currently his assistants are Ian McCann, Damien Sweeney and new recruit Eddie Lambe, with Paddy Conlon having contributed a lot until recently, and Fàs workers have done their bit too.
The work is hard, but Matt sees it as something of a labour of love.
‘I’ve been groundsman since Paul Doolin came to the club [in 2003] and it’s pretty tough work. You are talking about 15 to 20 hours a week and you’d look at the weather forecast every day just like the farmers do, but I see it as a hobby and I take pride in what I do.
‘The last time Shelbourne played here I was talking to their groundsman and he couldn’t believe that we have six teams playing here, but young players like to be playing on a club’s main pitch and with summer football it’s easily kept as long as you keep it cut. All you need is a fork and a good mower.
‘Last year was very tough because of the long dry spell and the last few weeks there’s been a lot of rain, so thank God it’s the end of the season.’
The 2019 winners will take the crown from Longford Town, after Drogheda’s First Division rivals won the honour in 2018. Meanwhile, members twopromis of last prominent season’s squad uad have re-signed ed for the Drogs s over the past t week, namely the captain Jake Hyland and local lad Sean Brennan n (pictured right). t).
Hyland missed sed the start with of a theesearoken broken season leg and suffered another injury in the autumn which kept him out of the promotion play-offs but still managed 22 appearances and is set for his fourth season at United Park.
Brennan, who has been training with Drogheda Town in recent weeks, has opted to sign for the Drogs for a seventh season - six consecutively - and the 33-yearold has already made 174 appearances for the club and scored 32 goals. ReflectReflecting on his decisiodecision to stay at UnUnited Park, HylHyland said: ‘I’m delighted to sign back for the club agagain. It’s a gregreat place to play football at the mminute. ‘ObObviously Tim [ClancyClancy] and Kev [Doherty] aare big factors in that they are top-class and keep a good relationship within the squad.
‘We got stronger as the year went on last season, so I’m happy to be back and looking forward to getting going again.
‘The aim is to get promoted, of course, like most teams at this stage of the season, but I think with the continuity of the group and the new additions we’ll be right up there.
‘Going so close and the overall experience of last year will stand to everyone and hopefully we’re able to get momentum and go one step further this season.’
Brennan has set similar goals for the team and he said: ‘I just think there’s still that fire in me to get the club back to where I believe it should be. I’m still really enjoying my football and I love pulling on that jersey every week!
“Hopefully we progress as a team and go one step further than we did the last couple of seasons.’