Mahon quite happy to bring Byrne back into mix
DROGHEDA United boss Pete Mahon says he’s ready dy to bring Thomas Byrnene back into the side if he e recovers from a leg injury, after no action was taken against thee teenager for refusing to take a blood test.
The Tenure native played for the Republic of Ireland Under-19s against Azerbaijan in their opening European Championship qualifierier in Waterford two weeks ks ago, after which he undertook ndere a standard urine test.
That sample passed, but he didn’t undergo a subsequent blood test from an FAI testing team and was subsequentlyquently reported to Sport Ireland.
However, Mahon has been surprised by the level of attention the issue has received and is perplexed by the FAI’s actions in asking for a blood sample as well as one for urine.
‘Sport Ireland did not seem too interested, but then they didn’t do the testing,’ the Drogheda manager said, speaking yesterday (Monday) morning.
‘We have to respect the integrity of the testing system, but it was very, very upsetting for Thomas and his family to read about it on the back page of the Herald.
‘He just said to them that he was not prepared to do a blood test when nobody else was being asked and I don’t know why there had to be a blood test [when he’d passes a urine test].
‘It’s ironic that we were tested ourselves last Monday. We had an unannounced visit at training by Sport Ireland and it was only urine.
‘As far as we’re concerned there’s no issue and until we hear something different we are going to battle away. Thomas is available to us, we are training tonight and we expect him to be there.
‘He did pick up an injury in that international, but we’ll assess him and see how he is.’
Drogheda are away to Finn Harps this Friday in their penultimate league match of the season (kick-off 8pm) and a win for the Boynesiders would confirm their opponents’ relegation to Division 1.
Ballybofey was the scene of Drogheda’s last league victory way back on April 21st, since which the Boynesiders have gone 21 league games without a win - the latest a 1-0 reverse in Limerick last Saturday.
Again, Mahon was happy enough with the performance, although he conceded that Drogheda didn’t do themselves any favours as they gave away a penalty before Colm Deasy was dismissed for two yellow cards.
‘We had a setback in the warm-up when Sean Brennan pulled out with a back injury and we had to reshuffle, but we played quite well and had a lot of possession and defended well,’ Mahon remarked.
‘But we didn’t help ourselves by conceding a needless penalty and then we had a man sent off and it was very difficult for us after that.
‘Again we didn’t score and we still can’t win and that’s a bit demoralising, but we’re still going to give it everything in our last two games. We will give it 100% and I can guarantee that.’
One of the few pluses was that Kevin Farragher came through 90 minutes unscathed, after missing most of the season through injury.
‘Kevin would not be up to what we would like [fitness-wise], but he had been injured for a long time and he needed a game, so I decided to play him.
‘The back four was good and the keeper was excellent, but up front we didn’t create that many chances and that’s been the problem for us all season.’
Once again there is a long casualty list for Friday, with Stephen Dunne, Gavin Brennan, Ciaran McGuigan, Ryan Masterson and the suspended Deasy definitely out and Jake Hyland, Sean Brennan, Richie Purdy, Shane Elworthy all doubtful along with the aforementioned Byrne.
Drogheda’s final game of the season on Friday week is at home to Sligo Rovers who may need something from that game to avoid joining the Boynesiders in the First Division.
We have to respect the integrity of the testing system, but it was very, very upsetting for Thomas and his family to read about it on the back page of the Herald.