2018 Season Preview - Drogheda United

Manager: Tim Clancy

Stadium: United Park

Players In: Gareth McCaffrey (Cabinteely), Chris Lyons (Shelbourne), Ciaran Kelly (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Paul Skinner, Kealan Dillon (Longford Town), Luke Rossiter (Bray Wanderers), Lee Duffy (Trim Celtic), Luca Gratzer (Shamrock Rovers), Victor Ekanem (Cabinteely).

Players Out: Chris Mulhall, Jamie Hollywood, Shane Elworthy (Longford Town), Stephen Elliott (Morpeth Town), Adam Wixted (Sligo Rovers), Stephen McGuinness (Cabinteely), Thomas Byrne (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Dave Mulcahy (Shelbourne), Sean Russell (Atlantic City), Brian Cabraley (Athlone Town), Gavin Brennan (Boyne Harps).

Extratime.ie Key Man: Lee Duffy

While a new look Drogheda will need either Paul Skinner or Luca Gratzer to step up and fill the void of Stephen McGuinness, who has moved to Cabinteely, it is up front where they desperately need to improve.

Drogheda scored just 22 goals in 33 Premier Division games last season, a statistic that in a seriously competitive First Division will need to improve.

With Chris Mulhall, Stephen Elliott, Adam Wixted and Thomas Byrne all leaving the club, Tim Clancy has signed Chris Lyons, Gareth McCaffrey and Lee Duffy to bolster his attack.

This season will be both McCaffrey and Duffy's second spells with the Boynesiders, with McCaffrey scoring six goals in 12 games as Drogheda earned promotion from the First Division via the play-offs in 2016.

Duffy had played for Drogheda in the Premier Division the season before and while they got relegated, he impressed, finishing the season with seven goals. Since then, he has played with both Longford and Wexford but injuries hampered his seasons with both clubs.

Duffy, who had been playing for Clancy's local club, Trim Celtic, before signing for Drogheda, has impressed in pre-season for Drogheda, scoring what may be the best goal Drogheda score all season against Dundalk with a stunning long ranged effort with his weaker left foot.

Looking set to play on the wing this season, Duffy also scored Drogheda’s final goal in a 4-1 win over Derry and Drogheda fans will be hoping he can continue his goalscoring exploits throughout this season.

Extratime.ie One to Watch: Luke Rossiter

Drogheda have a number of young talents in their squad who look set to play regularly this season, including the likes of Conor Kane, U19 graduates Mark Doyle and Stephen Meaney and new signing Ciaran Kelly.

Another new signing, teenager Luke Rossiter, has now signed for his former Bray teammate and new Drogheda United manager, Tim Clancy. 

Rossiter has impressed in pre-season, lining up in a midfield three, showing his ability to dictate a game with his ability to win the ball back, find space and get Drogheda attacking with his range of passing.

Talking to Extratime.ie after signing for Drogheda, Rossiter's confidence showed as he explained how he believes Drogheda have the quality to be aiming for promotion back to the Premier Division this season.

"My hope for this season is promotion. I feel we are the top contenders with the squad we have and the staff so I'm looking forward for the season to start," Rossiter told extratime.ie.

How they did last season

League: 12th – relegated from the Premier Division

Drogheda finished bottom of the Premier Division in 2017, picking up just 22 points from 33 games. The Boynesiders won five, drew 7 and lost 21 of their games, scoring 22 and conceding 65, giving them the worst offensive and defensive records in the league.

Four of Drogheda's five victories came in the first series of games. They won their first two games of the season, beating Galway 1-0 away from home before beating St. Patrick's Athletic 2-0 at United Park. Drogheda lost their next five games before picking up two wins in three games against Shamrock Rovers and Finn Harps.

That victory over Harps came on April 21 and Drogheda's only other victory in the league in 2017 came in their second last game of the season, in a 3-2 victory, also away to Harps on October 23.

Between those two victories against Harps in April and October, Drogheda had six draws and fifteen defeats in 21 games.

FAI Cup: Quarter-Final

Drogheda won just seven competitive games in 2017, with two of them coming in the FAI Cup against non-league opposition. The first of those came in the first round away to Kilkenny side Evergreen as Drogheda prevailed 4-0 with goals from Ryan Masterson, Mark Doyle and a brace from Chris Mulhall.

The second round saw Drogheda come up against Cobh Wanderers and again win by four goals, this time on a 5-1 scoreline. Chris Mulhall again scored a brace, finding the net once either side of David Stack's goal for Wanderers. Full back Shane Elworthy had scored a brace of his own in the first half while Thomas Byrne scored the fifth in injury time at the end of the second half.

Drogheda were drawn away to Dundalk in the quarter final, where their FAI Cup run ended with a 4-0 defeat courtesy of goals from Michael Duffy, Dylan Connolly, Brian Gartland and a penalty from David McMillan.

EA Sports Cup: First Round

Drogheda were knocked out of the EA Sports Cup at the first time of asking in 2017. Drawn at home to Bray Wanderers, the Boynesiders gave away two first half penalties, both taken by Drogheda native Ryan Brennan. Brennan scored his first but missed the second. However, Bray saw the game out and progressed to the next round with a 1-0 win over Drogheda.

What to expect this season: Promotion Push

It’s tough to pick out a clear favourite for the First Division title with the likes of Galway and Finn Harps both being tipped to push for the top spot. With second, third and fourth all earning a promotion spot, Drogheda’s aim has to be aim for one of those play-off spots.

Title Odds: 13/2

First Game: vs Finn Harps on Friday, 23 February, United Park, 7:45pm.   

In what is the most competitive First Division in recent years, the opening week of fixtures has thrown up some interesting games, such as UCD vs Shelbourne and Longford vs Cobh Ramblers.

However, the meeting of two of the sides relegated from the Premier Division last season, Drogheda and Finn Harps, may be the pick of the bunch from the first round of fixtures.