7 - so where are they now?
boots at the age of 36.
Recently returned to play for Home Farm in the Leinster Senior League at 46 and is Player Executive at the PFA Ireland.
James Keddy Age: 32
2007: 15 starts, 6 sub apps, 3 goals
Finest moment: Curled in a free kick to put Drogheda on their way to 4-1 victory over Bray Wanderers in June.
After 2007: Joined Shelbourne and played one more season before his retirement.
Today: Enjoying a break from the game after leaving his role as Home Farm FC director of football last November. Works as an electrician.
Aidan O’Keeffe Age: 25
2007: 5 starts, 17 sub apps, 4 goals
Finest moment: Netted a couple in a rare start against UCD at the Belfield Bowl in April 2008.08.
After 2007: Had spells with Bray Wanderers andd Hamilton Croatia.
Today: Last heard of living in Canada.
Shane Barrett Age: 25
2007: 1 start
Finest moment: Scored a superb hat-trick againstst Derry City in a league matchatch at United Park in Novemberber
2006.
Remained another season with Drogheda and also played for Shelbourne, Sporting Fingal, Cork City and Monaghan United. Returned to his GAA roots to play for Na Fianna in his native Meath.
Today: Adult guidance counsellor specialising in sports retirement/transitions.
Forwards
24
38 starts, 5 sub apps, 15 goals Scored the equaliser in the home leg of the Uefa Cup tie against Helsingborgs, cancelling out Henrik Larsson’s strike for the Swedes.
After 2007: LeLeft Drogheda in 2008 and playedp for Sporting Fingal, DDerry City, Shamrock rockShamrock RRovers, Sligo Rovers as wewell as in Malaysia and Iran, becoming the first non-Iranian player to nnet a hat-trick in the Tehran derby and earnearning the accolade WorWorld Player of the WeekWeek. Has also been capped eight times by Libya.
Today: PlayiPlaying for Indy Eleven in the North AmericanAm Soccer League.
24
18 starts, 4 sub apps, 2 goals
Scored twice in two consecutive appearances in March after the team had drawn blanks in their opening three games of the season.
After 2007: Departed for St Pat’s mid-season but returned to finish his career with Drogheda in 2010.
Today: Not known.
Tony Grant
Age: 31
2007: 9 starts, 22 sub apps, 4 goals
Finest moment: Netted a stunning equaliser against Linfield in the Setanta Sports Cup Final before going on to convert his spot kick in the decisive penalty shootout.
After 2007: Returned to former club Glenavon, the club for whom he scored the winner in the 1997 Irish Cup Final, and also had spells with Glebe North and Duleek.
Today: Still working as a postman in his native Balbriggan.
Sami Ristila
Age: 33
2007: 11 starts, 6 sub apps, 3 goals
Finest moment: Came off the bench to score the equaliser in a 2-2 draw against Cork in April - a match where Drogheda were without 14 players, all but one through injury.
After 2007: Stayed at United Park in 2008 and then returned to his native Finland to play for his first club Haka. Subsequently managed another Finnish club, KTP.
Today: Returned to Ireland last year to link up with former Drogs teammates Stephen Bradley and Shane Robinson at Shamrock Rovers and how works as Bradley’s assistant.
Guy Bates
Age: 21
2007: 9 starts, 2 sub apps, 4 goals
Finest moment: Errr, could be the goal that clinched the League of Ireland Premier Division title, firing home from long range to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory over Cork City at United Park 10 years ago almost to the day.
After 2007: Stayed at United Park in 2008 and had a second spell at United Park, while also playing in Australia, Belgium and England (non-league with Blyth Spartans). More recently returned these shores to play for Linfield and Glenavon.
Today: Left Glenavon this year at the end of his contract and isn’t playing football at the moment.
Declan O’Brien (pictured left)
Age: 28
2007: 9 starts, 2 sub apps, 5 goals
Finest moment: Where do you start? His 2007 season ended in May when he suffered a serious injury in the Setanta Sports Cup Final, but he lifted the League trophy as captain and also scored the decisive second goal in the 2005 FAI Cup Final victory over Cork City. The club’s all-time record scorer, with 118 goals in the league alone.
Had a second goal-laden spell with Drogheda from 2012 to 2014. Either side of that played for Dundalk, St Patrick’s Athletic, Valletta (Malta), Athlone Town, Glenavon and Carrick Rangers.
Today: Recently appointed player-manager of Verona in the Leinster Senior League - the club from whom Harry McCue first signed him for Drogheda in 2000.
Other squad members
Laytown native a young centre-half, was part of the squad but didn’t feature in 2007, not did teenage midfielders David McAllister and Shaun Williams. Hageman went on to play for Glenavon, Ilkestown Town and Glebe North.
McAllister secured a move to England and turned out for Sheffield United, Shrewsbury Town and Stevenage in England before returning home. Now plays for Shamrock Rovers.
Williams also went cross Channel and between Milton Keynes Dons and current club Millwall has played more than 250 games since 2011.
Two other teenagers, centre-half Gareth Whelan and goalkeeper Cian Byrne (from Monasterboice) made one appearance in the League Cup and Byrne went on to win the Collingwood Cup with UCD. Whelan had a second spell with Drogheda and also turned out for Shelbourne but now plays in the Leinster Senior League for Malahide United.