Drogheda United shake up squad

Despite the transfer window having only opened a week ago, Drogheda United have certainly gone about their business early with four ins and five outs in the last few days.

Manager Johnny McDonnell has been a believer in youth this year, an example being his promotion of many young players to the Drogheda senior squad in pre-season, and this transfer window has been no different with three players twenty-one and younger joining the club, including former Dundalk fullback Manuel Kaguako. The nineteen year old previously played for the Drogheda United youth side before moving to the Lilywhites.

Twenty year old James Daly has also signed from Metropolitan Police FC in the Isthmian League. The young wide midfielder made his debut as a late substitute in the 2-1 derby defeat to Dundalk and he was previously a part of QPR’s youth academy.

The latest young addition to the side has been twenty-one year old Ger Pender from League of Ireland newcomers Cabinteely FC. The former Bray Wanderers and Longford Town front man netted three goals in sixteen appearances for the First Division side and should be a welcome addition given the recent departures in the striking department.

Drogheda United have also announced the signing of experienced midfielder Robert Bayly, who played most recently with Cliftonville. Robert had signed for the Danske Premiership side from Shamrock Rovers in January of this year and played in six of their last eight games as they finished fourth in the league. He also finished fourth with Shamrock Rovers in the 2014 Premier Division, playing twenty-one times for the senior squad and twice for the Rovers First Division side.

While new players have come in, five have exited the club despite four of them only joining at the start of the season. Winger Matthew Rooney returned to Northern Ireland to sign for Warrenpoint Town on July 1st while fellow attackers Michael Scott and Daryl Kavanagh and defender Neil Yadolahi also left the club in June.  

Carl Walshe, who signed for former club Shelbourne this week, is the only player to leave that played at least a season for the Drogs. The striker signed from Shels at the start of the 2014 Premier Division campaign and only missed two games during the season, scoring twice in thirty-one appearances. He played fourteen more times this season before leaving to join Shelbourne for their promotion push in the First Division.