Centre-half ‘Lukes’ to follow Kelly
CENTRE-HALF Luke McNally says he hopes to replicate the outstanding form of Ciaran Kelly last year as he prepares to spend the 2019 season on loan to Drogheda United from St Patrick’s Athletic.
McNally last week signed a twoyear contract with the Inchicore outfit but was immediately loaned out to the Boynesiders for the season and he lined up against his parent club in Friday night’s friendly.
Kelly was virtually an ever-present for the Drogs last year, scoring six goals for good measure, and it was no surprise when he returned to former club St Pat’s during the close season, with the prospect of Premier football too much to turn down.
However, with the likes of Lee Desmond and Kevin Toner also providing strong competition for places at the heart of the Pats defence, McNally welcomed the opportunity to go out on loan for 2019.
The Dubliner has played in the Under-19 Cup Final in each of the last two seasons and he’s relishing the chance to step up and play senior football.
‘The first division seems to be the place to be for young players,’ he told St Pat’s TV. ‘It’s a real good professional environment and you get to play plenty games if you apply yourself right and there’s plenty of examples of that in the league.
‘Ciaran Kelly last year was flying when he came down to Drogheda. He did it through a lot of hard work. He’s a top player and we’re kind of similar in a way. We like to get on the ball and be good defenders as well, so I suppose it’s easy enough for me to see how he got on. Hopefully I can do something similar.’