Kane backs teammates to come good

big teams.’

Kane was involved in an entertaining duel with Derry’s Mark Timlin who was the first Derry player to be substituted, and the youngster certainly gave as good as he got, but naturally he had regrets about the eventual outcome.

‘It was a 10-minute spell when we let in three goals through indecision - whatever it was - that killed us off, but I thought we didn’t do badly,’ Kane insisted.

‘We played well in the first 45 and kept it tight, and up to 75 minutes I thought we were good. Steve’s had three good chances and was unfortunate not to take them, but that’s a good sign that we’re creating chances.

‘We’ve started off not too bad, two wins from five, but we could do better.’

Despite Drogheda’s three defeats on the bounce, Palmerstown native Kane is happy with his own contribution, having made his senior debut last week against Bray Wanderers.

‘It’s not bad to get first team football at the age of 18,’ he agreed. ‘That’s the reason I left Pats, to get first-team football. I just wanted to get experience playing with senior lads.

‘I didn’t think I got enough opportunities at Pats. They’re a good team, in fairness, but Pete [Mahon] gave me the opportunity to come here and it’s paying off so far with my performances.

‘The training is very good and they’re really good lads and I get on very well with them and they’ve good banter as well.

‘I knew Shane Elworthy and Thomas Byrne from the international set-up, so it was alright to sit in with them, and then I played with Collie Deasy at Pats underage, so it was good to have a few boys that you knew to make setting in a bit easier.

‘I’m heading to the Euros now for 10 days and I’m looking forward to that. Hopefully I can train the night I come back and play the game against Dundalk [on Friday week].

‘All the travelling is tough, but it’s what you want. It’s better than working in a full-time job. I have college as well, but it’s good to have football as your priority so you can focus on that and improve as a player.

‘I have a lot of time off for training and going to the gym, so it works out alright for me personally.

‘I have the FAI Awards and my family will be there and it’ll be a good day for them more than anything. Hopefully I’ll see them for a bit before I go off to [Belgium] because they have supported me since I was born, playing football, and my friends as well.

‘Just to be nominated for an award is unbelievable.’