Drogheda Independent

Time for Town to make next step

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ROBBIE Horgan is entering his third full season as Drogheda Town manager and feels it’s time for the Marian Park club to make strides back into Intermedia­te football.

The former Drogheda United goalkeeper and manager was appointed at Christmas in 2015 and steered the team away from relegation during his first few months in charge, before mid-table finishes in each of their last two campaigns.

After a longer than planned pre-season, Town will belatedly get their Leinster Senior League Major Division campaign up and running this Friday (kick-off 8pm) when they travel to Castleknoc­k Celtic and Horgan and the squad are desperate for some action at this stage.

‘I didn’t mean to do an eight-week pre-season - I never even did that at League of Ireland level - but it’s given us plenty of time to bring in a few players and keep some old ones, as well as losing a few as well.

‘Getting a reserve team was something we were pushing for and we have that now which is a pathway for two things. We don’t have an Under-18 team this year, so it gives lads coming out of Under-17 some football, as well as players who aren’t getting into the first team.

‘With four games to go last year we still had a chance of promotion, but it was a bridge too far and so we have strengthen­ed in different areas where we needed to and tried to get two players for each position.

‘If we are at full strength we’re confident of beating anybody.’

Consistenc­y will be the key for Horgan’s men if they are to achieve their goals this season.

‘Intermedia­te football is the next level up, that’s where we want to be and that’s what I am striving for,’ he agreed.

‘We have the best of facilities at Blackstone Motors Marian Park and DIFE, where we have training and games as well, and we have fantastic staff.

‘The first year I was here was about getting to know where the club was, and in year two we gave it a good go, but this year I want promotion and there will no stone left unturned in trying to achieve that.’

Meanwhile, Boyne Rovers will operate in the Premier Sunday division this season after finishing bottom of the Major 1 Sunday last spring, and their first game is way to Balbriggan this Friday at 7.30pm.

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