Midseason Report Card - Drogheda United

Club: Drogheda United

Manager: Pete Mahon

Stadium: United Park

Highest attendance this season: 1,100 vs Shamrock Rovers (7^th April 2017).

Highest league goalscorer: Adam Wixted (3).

Mid-season position: 9th

How we thought they would do

In our pre-season predictions, the majority of the Extratime team believed that the Boynesiders would struggle in their first season back in the Premier Division and finish 11^th.                 

How they really have done

Drogheda United sit ninth in the table at the mid-season break with four wins, five draws and eight defeats from seventeen games.

The Boynesiders won the first two games of the season against Galway and St. Pat’s before Pete Mahon’s side then lost their next five league games before they beat Shamrock Rovers.

The Louth side won one, lost one and drew two of their next four games before back to back defeats to St. Pat’s and Cork saw them fall to the bottom of the table.

However, three scoreless draws in a row leaves Drogheda sitting ninth as they prepare to face Dundalk in the Louth Derby when the league returns from the mid-season break.

Moment of the season so far

The moment of the season so far for Drogheda has to be their 2-1 victory at home to Shamrock Rovers. Sean Thornton gave Drogheda the lead with a first half penalty. Rovers were then awarded a penalty in the 88^th minute with Drogs’ captain Sean Brennan being sent off before Graham Burke scored from the spot.

However, Drogheda found the winner in the 93^rd minute as a Ryan McEvoy header hit Burke and ended up in the back of the net to give Drogheda their first league win over Rovers at United Park since 2005.

Star Player: Stephen McGuinness

McGuinness has, as he did last year, impressed as he has repeatedly both won and kept Drogheda in a number of games this season.

The Drogheda shot stopper has kept six clean sheets so far this season, beginning with a win over Galway on the opening day of the season as he kept out the Tribesmen before Gareth McCaffrey won the game late on for Drogheda.

Centre back Luke Gallagher also has to be mentioned having put in consistently solid performances in defence through the season, including man of the match performances in the two games before the mid-season break, against Derry and Bohemians.

Surprise star player: Colm Deasy

Colm Deasy had an impressive first season at Drogheda as he helped them to promotion to the Premier Division via the play-off. The right-back has only continued to improve this season, becoming a more integral part of the Boynesiders side.

The 20 year-old has had a few injury issues this season and both his defensive and attacking abilities, boosted by his pace and crossing ability, have been missed when he hasn’t been in the side.

Young player: Richie Purdy

20 year-old Purdy is a player whose role seemingly tends to go unnoticed. However, up until picking up an injury away to Cork recently, he had been the one consistent name on the teamsheet in the Drogheda midfield this season and for good reason too.

Regularly playing the most defensive role of either a back three or four, Purdy has been somewhat of a controlling force in midfield, whilst providing more security to the back four. He hasn’t been limited to that defensive role though, regularly bursting forward in attack but has yet to find his first goal for the club.  

Star signing: Thomas Byrne/Conor Kane

Despite signing a number of experienced players, the majority of Drogheda’s starting 11 has tended to be the same squad from last year. Drogheda signed a number of experienced players in Ciaran McGuigan and Stephen Elliott alongside Gavin and Killian Brennan. Injury issues have affected those players this season and it has been two younger signings who have stood out.

Local player Thomas Byrne quickly became a fan favourite thanks to his ability to change a game, taking on and beating players with ease and will be hoping to score his first competitive goal soon.

Kane, at the beginning of the season, was backup to the impressive Stephen Dunne but when he has got his chance at left back, he has impressed and stated his case for a regular starting place.

What they need to do in the transfer market

Drogheda have struggled to score goals recently, having not found the back of the net in any of their last five games. Pete Mahon has added striker Ryan Masterson to his side, with the former Hyde United man making his debut against Bohemians before the break. If the opportunity is there to strengthen, new signings could be seen in any of the outfield positions. In particular, a replacement for Gareth McCaffrey, who left the club recently wouldn’t be a surprise, meaning another wide player could well come in.

Where we see them finishing

With three teams being relegated and just six points separating the bottom half of the Premier Division, the battle to stay up will be a closely fought one. Drogheda have lost just two of their eight games at home but have also drawn four of those. If they can continue to produce their recent defensive performances and add goals to their game, they have a very strong possibility of staying up.