Realistic goal for Drogs is play-offs
MOMENTUM is everything in football and there’s definitely more optimism in the air as Drogheda United prepare to kick off the 2019 season in their centenary year.
An all-new jersey and fresh blood in the boardroom have generated a few extra column inches in the media, United Park has been spruced up just a little and the FAI’s communications chief Fran Gavin spoke last week of ‘fantastic progress’ in bringing the promised new stadium to fruition.
There are some positive vibes coming out from supporters and the local business community too, and the club will be confident of reversing the recent decline in attendances and bringing back a bit more buzz to match nights up the Windmill Road.
By comparison, 12 months ago Drogheda were at a low ebb. Newly relegated and with a rookie manager - Tim Clancy - appointed after the highly regarded Collie O’Neill turned down the job as Pete Mahon’s successor, the prospects of an immediate return to the Premier Division looked very bleak. Indeed, another promotion might not have been in the club’s best interests given the financial strain they were under.
However, it could be seen as a vote of confidence in how Drogheda is being run that Clancy has opted to stay at United Park rather than take the job at Shelbourne,
SHELBOURNE and with his assistant Kevin Doherty still on board also, that sense of continuity is to be welcomed.
Trim native Clancy did a sound job in his debut year in management - although he will have regrets about landing himself with a four-match ban at a crucial stage in the campaign - and with the benefit of a full and uninterrupted pre-season the Boynesiders should be better prepared going into this Friday’s league kick-off.
That said, it will be a miracle if Drogheda manage to better last season’s flying start when they scored 14 goals in their opening two games against Athlone Town and Wexford!
In terms of comparing the current squad with the class of 2018, well, it’s difficult to make a case that Clancy has been able to strengthen his hand significantly.
In terms of departures, there are some big boots to fill in Ciaran Kelly, William Hondermarck, Gareth McCaffrey, Colm Deasy and Richie Purdy, along with Kealan Dillon and Lee Duffy who made an impact on a lesser scale last season.
Kelly has been replaced by Luke McNally, who is on loan from St Pat’s for the season, a trio of signings from Shels - Mark Hughes, Cian Kavanagh and James Brown - have helped fill some of the other vacancies and the versatile Bellewstown native Luke Heeney is also a useful acquisition.
Drogheda’s two most
BRAY WANDERERS eye-catching signings, though, are Adam Wixted and Thomas Byrne - both of whom played for the Drogs before spells with Sligo Rovers and St Pat’s respectively - and they certainly have the potential to excite and put more bums on seats.
At 20, Tenure native Byrne MANAGER
Gary Cronin
GROUND
Carlisle Grounds
2018
Bottom of Premier (relegated)
DATES WITH DROGS
Apr 19 (h) June 28 (a) Sep 21 (h)
ODDS
4/1
ONE TO WATCH
Dylan McGlade (pictured)
VERDICT
The newly-relegated Seagulls have freshened up their squad considerably, bringing in three ex Drogs in Gabriel Sava, Richie Purdy and 2007 League medallist Paul Keegan along with talented winger McGlade. There’s a bit more optimism around a club that had been in turmoil for some time, but can manager Cronin - himself a former Drogheda player - find the right formula to steer them back up? 2nd is two years older and hopefully wiser - there remains a question mark over his temperament - and it will be interesting to see if Clancy persists with playing him in a more central role in behind chief striker Chris Lyons. Wherever he plays, though, Byrne’s pace and supreme ball skills will be a
DROGHEDA UNITED MANAGER
Tim Clancy
GROUND
United Park
2018
4th (beat Shels in play-off series before going down to Finn Harps)
ODDS
11/1
ONE TO WATCH
Thomas Byrne (pictured)
VERDICT
The Drogs came up just short of achieving promotion last autumn and with a similar budget can’t be fancied to challenge for the title. However, another push for the play-offs is certainly on the cards. Ciaran Kelly, who scored six goals from centre-back last year, will be a big loss - he has joined St Pat’s - but in Thomas Byrne and Adam Wixted they now possess two classy wingers who can make things happen going forward. If Chris Lyons and Mark Doyle can increase their goal-scoring ratio, then a top-three finish is within Drogheda’s grasp. 3rd major headache defences.
At the heart of midfield, Sean Brennan will once again be a key asset because of his vast experience, wonderful vision and ability from free kicks, which saw him net 12 goals last season.
Hughes has been excellent
LONGFORD TOWN for opposition MANAGER
Neale Fenn
GROUND
City Calling Stadium
2018
5th
DATES WITH DROGS
Mar 2 (h) May 3 (a) Jul 13 (h)
ODDS
18/1
ONE TO WATCH
Anto Breslin (pictured)
VERDICT
Longford Town just missed out on the play-offs last autumn and on the face of it have lost four key players from that campaign in Sam Verdon, Daniel O’Reilly, Darren Meenan and especially Dylan McGlade. However, there remains a good blend of youth and experience and on the evidence of their 2-2 friendly draw away to Dundalk recently then a renewed push for the promotion play-offs is on the cards. 4th alongside him in pre-season, and with Jake Hyland set to return from a broken leg in the coming weeks the Boynesiders look strong in that sector of the pitch.
Lyons will soldier on at centre-forward and Drogheda fans love his never-say-die attitude and massive workrate. The player him-
LIMERICK
VERDICT
Limerick shipped some heavy defeats towards the end of last season, so much so that their promotion/relegation play-off defeat to First Division runners-up Finn Harps came as no real surprise - and there hasn’t been much activity in the transfer window to lift spirits. Face Longford, Bray and Drogheda in their first three fixtures and we’ll have a better idea of how Tommy Barrett’s men might fare after that. 5th