Will it be third time lucky for the Drogs?
EVEN by League of Ireland standards it’s been the most farcical pre-season in living memory and at this stage the First Division kick-off can’t come fast enough.
Well, that time is now and Drogheda United are making final preparations for Saturday’s long trip to face Cobh Ramblers in what is the reverse of their opening game 12 months ago.
As recently as last Wednesday the number of teams competing in the second tier was still in doubt as, remarkably, there was no confirmation over whether or not Limerick FC had been awarded a licence after exiting examinership, while the proposed inclusion of Shamrock Rovers II - their B team - was also fiercely opposed.
Such was the furore over a Hoops second string being admitted to the league that some clubs threatened a boycott or even to withdraw from the league altogether. In the end the Shannonsiders weren’t successful - they were only invited to apply for a licence in the first place after taking court action against the FAI - and it is regrettable that they seem to have been unable to get their finances in order because the League of Ireland needs teams in all the regions in order to survive and hopefully prosper.
Other clubs, though, will be quietly heaving a collective sigh of relief that Limerick aren’t involved because that would have meant 11 teams, and in that scenario the FAI were bizarrely proposing only two rounds of fixtures, preceded by a Shield competition to fill the void.
Even by the FAI’s standards, that was a laughable proposal - or it would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious. Players and managers have no interest in such a competition and supporters would most certainly have voted with their feet on freezing Friday nights in February - or even in the middle of summer for that matter. It would certainly have been a loss-making exercise for already cash-strapped clubs to fulfil those fixtures.
So it’s ‘no’ to Limerick and ‘yes’ to Shamrock Rovers II, and with little noise being made by the First Division Alliance in recent days, the prospect of boycotting Rovers matches appears to have receded. However, some sort of protest at Rovers’ opening game at Longford Town wouldn’t be a surprise.
Drogheda United manager Tim Clancy has said repeatedly that all these distractions don’t concern him and he’s been focusing on preparing his squad for whatever fixture is thrown at them on the opening weekend.
The fact that it’s Cobh gives the Boynesiders a great opportunity
VERDICT
Drogheda have gone close twice under Clancy and with the better resourced Shelbourne now in the Premier Division this could be their chance. Scoring goals no problem, but they need to concede fewer than last year. 1st to get off to a perfect start. Last season Drogheda competed a hattrick of wins against the Munster side - 4-0 and 4-2 at home and 4-1 away. However, Clancy will no doubt be preaching the danger of under-estimating a side that the bookies believe have a fair chance of making the play-offs.
Beyond the trip to St Colman’s Park, there are tough-looking fixtures against Longford, UCD, Shamrock Rovers II and Bray Wanderers - which makes it all the more important that the Boynesiders have three points in the bag when they head back up the road late on Saturday night.
So what of Drogheda’s prospects for 2020 as a whole?
Well, with last season’s hot favourites Shelbourne safely back in the Premier Division there’s no clear favourite for the title - but if the bookies are anything to go then it’s a four-horse race between Longford Town, Galway United, Bray Wanderers and the Drogs.
The rule book prevents Shamrock Rovers’ second string from being promoted and UCD are the only other team with realistic ambitions to finish top.
Drogheda have come up just short in each of the last two seasons, but they have the personnel - both among the playing staff and management - to make it third time lucky.
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Finished one place behind Drogheda in both the last two years despite winning all three meetings in 2019. Will be a big threat again, especially now they have last year’s First Division top scorer Rob Manley in their ranks. 2nd
Gary Cronin
GROUND Carlisle Grounds
2019 5th
ODDS 9/2
ONE TO WATCH Aaron Barry (right)
Looking at the squad at their disposal, perhaps the only question marks lies over the lack of experience among the three goalkeepers, now that Paul Skinner had departed, and that’s especially true at the moment as both Luca Gratzer and Ross Treacy have been nursing injuries recently.
However, teenager David Odumosu has already shown in
VERDICT
With ex Drogheda United defender Cronin still at the helm, the Seagulls seem to be in a period of relative stability. They only finished five points behind the Boynesiders last term and will be targeting a play-off position again. 3rd
Andy Myler
ODDS pre-season that he’s capable of stepping up to the plate if necessary, and the appointment of a dedicated goalkeeping coach this season is a step forward.
In defence James Brown and Conor Kane still occupy the fullback positions, but there’s a new partnership at centre-half where Derek Prendergast, Hugh Douglas and Jack Tuite will be vying for the
VERDICT
Have lost several major players, including O’Farrell (to Drogheda), Liam Scales and Jason McClelland, but UCD unearth new talent every year. Myler assured of a hero’s reception when they visit United Park on March 6th. 4th two available places.
Time will tell if Drogheda miss last year’s remarkable nine-goal contribution by Luke McNally - now back with parent club St Pat’s - and it may be that the incoming trio will have to weigh in with several goals apiece to make up for the loss of the talented teenager.
What Prendergast and Douglas do give is experience and leader
VERDICT
Galway trailed 24 points behind the play-offs last season but should make significant progress thanks to a bigger budget. Apart from Schlingermann they have recruited the likes of Kevin Farragher and Shane Duggan. 5th