Drogs’ boss determined to defy odds

last November, hasn’t made wholesale changes at Eamonn Deacy Park during the close season, but he did capture one notable signing from Cork City in former Drogs midfielder Gavan Holohan.

They have had a promising run in their friendly outings, beating Limerick, Sligo Rovers, Cobh Ramblers and Athlone Town, while suffering just one defeat - against Waterford.

Drogheda won their first four games in pre-season but then drew with Limerick before going down to UCD in the Leinster Senior Cup last Friday, and Mahon wasn’t mincing his words about that defeat.

‘It was a very, very disappointing result because every game is important for different reasons and we wanted to stay in the competition,’ he said.

‘We had 13 attempts on goal and couldn’t score and I felt the attitude before the game wasn’t what it should be.

‘I read about [Jose] Mourinho saying the same about the Man United match against St Etienne, that there was too much laughing and joking. That’s how it was on Friday night. We gave a few lads an opportunity to play and they didn’t do the business, and so they won’t be playing against Galway.’

Meanwhile, the Drogs have been drawn in Pool 3 in the EA Sports Cup and will face Bray Wanderers at home in the first round on Monday/Tuesday March 20th/21st. St Patrick’s Athletic face Bluebell in the other tie in the pool, with Dundalk and UCD having received byes to the second round.