United’s loss is Town’s gain says Crowley

DROGHEDA Town manager Paul Crowley has spoken of his delight at securing the signing of Sean Brennan following his departure from United Park earlier in the summer.

The pair played together with Drogheda United for only one season almost a decade ago, but Crowley is in no doubt about the quality of the player who will line out for the Marian Park side when the new Leinster Senior League season kicks off in a couple of weeks’ time.

‘Everyone knows he will bring experience and a winning mentality, but the most important thing for me is that he has plenty in the tank and he wants to play and has an eagerness to succeed,’ Crowley enthused.

‘He’s 34 and he’s not just coming to finish up. He trained on Wednesday night and was pushing lads and he’s going to be the voice on the pitch that I can’t be from the sidelines.

‘He was at Drogheda Town 13 years ago and it was always a club he was going to come back to. He has a willingess to help and hopefully he’ll help improve everybody.

‘You look at all the top Leinster Senior League teams and they are riddled with ex League of Ireland players. Look at Kilnamanagh, who got promoted to the top division with Gary McCabe and Conor Kenna.

‘Drogheda Town have not had that experience and Sean is a key signing. It’s an area of the pitch where you can win games from, we were looking to strengthen there and it’s perfect timing because we’re in pre-season.

‘He could have hung around and possibly picked up a First Division winner’s medal and it would have been easy to see out the year.

‘I’m very surprised he didn’t get starting a few games this year because I always felt he was a very clever signing to retain him.

‘There were games where he could have affected things and he wasn’t used.’

Drogheda Town only completed their Major Division campaign a couple of weeks ago, finishing fourth in the table, and that could yet see them promoted to Division 1B depending on whether any clubs higher up the ladder are unable to enter for 2020/21.

That new campaign is due to begin on October 9th, although with Dublin teams currently unable to play outside their own county the kick-off is in some doubt.

The tighter restrictions have also prevented Drogheda Town playing friendlies against Dublin teams, but whenever the campaign does start Crowley is hoping his side can continue the momentum they built up in the campaign just finished.

‘We had no pre-season and retained two players from the squad we picked up,’ he pointed out.

‘To finish fourth behind Usher, Sheriff and Rush was a credit to the group and as good as we could have hoped for.’