12 re-sign for Drogs

Drogheda United have today announced that 12 players from the 2016 squad have re-signed ahead of the 2017 season.

The announcement comes hours after Drogheda announced that former captain Gavin Brennan had re-joined the club following a two season spell at Shamrock Rovers.

Goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness, who we named as Star Player in our Drogheda United Season Review for 2016, is the first of those key players to sign back with the Louth side for 2017.

McGuinness joined Drogheda in February 2016 but missed the beginning of the season due to injury. The keeper however, would go on to start every competitive fixture for the remainder of the season after making his debut against Cabinteely in April, keeping 13 clean sheets in 30 games.

Mahon has also retained the services of five defenders, who each played a part in the play-off victory over Wexford as well as one promising youngster from the under 19 side.

Left-back Colm Deasy, signed from St. Patrick’s Athletic U19 side in December 2015 has signed back for another year, as has right-back Stephen Dunne who previously played for St. Pat’s U19’s and Athlone Town.

Mahon will again have the centre-back pairing of Luke Gallagher and Kevin Farragher to call upon in 2017 with both defenders deciding to remain at United Park for the Premier Division campaign.

A midfielder at Burnley, Shelbourne and Bray Wanderers, Gallagher was signed as a centre-back by Mahon. Gallagher was a mainstay in the Drogheda side in 2016, playing every minute of the season, picking up just three yellow cards all season despite his defensive position.

Farragher joined the Louth side in July following his departure from Athlone Town and instantly became Gallagher's partner in the middle of the defence. Farragher was the unexpected hero in the second leg of the play-off against Wexford, coming off the bench to score Drogheda's second before making a dramatic last minute clearance off the line, to see Drogheda promoted back to the top flight.

Versatile defender Lloyd Buckley has also signed back with the Louth men for a third season as a senior player. Buckley was a member of Drogheda's U19 side in 2014 before joining the senior side in 2015. Buckley made 13 league appearances in 2015 as Drogheda were relegated and was one of just four players to remain at the club for the First Division campaign last season.

19-year-old Eoghan Dempsey, who starred for Drogheda's U19 side in 2016 has also signed on again for the 2017 season.

Midfielders Sean Brennan and Sean Thornton have also signed with their hometown club for a third consecutive season.

Brennan, who was vice-captain in 2016, became an important part of Mahon's side in the second half of last season, finishing the season with six goals, including the all-important first in the second leg of the play-off.

Thornton who previously played in the Premier League with Sunderland first signed for Drogheda in 2015 as the Louth side were relegated to the First Division. Despite being relegated, Thornton re-signed ahead of the 2016 season, becoming club captain and would go on to score the penalty that sealed the Boynesiders' return to the top flight.

Mahon has further boosted his options with the re-signing of central midfielder Jake Hyland, winger Adam Wixted and young striker Mark Doyle.

Hyland joined Drogheda after a brief spell at Malahide United following his departure from Bohemians in August of 2015. Hyland had made two Premier Division appearances for Bohs in 2015, in a 3-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers and in a 4-0 defeat to Cork City.

Following spells at Bohemians and Bray Wanderers in 2015, Wixted began his second spell at Drogheda United in 2016, signing with Luke Gallagher, who he had played with at Bray. Wixted first joined Drogheda in 2014 following his return to Ireland after a spell at Derby County.

A key member of Drogheda United's U19 side in 2016, 17-year-old Mark Doyle seen himself promoted to the first team by Pete Mahon, making a number of appearances off the bench throughout the season.