League Preview: Shelbourne -v- Drogheda United

Shelbourne will have been pleased with their overall performance in the 2022 , their first season back in the Premier Division having gained promotion from the First Division in 2021.

They finished a respectable seventh position in the league and went all the way to the FAI Cup Final in the Aviva Stadium, however with the ambitious Damien Duff at the helm, they will be expected to improve on that performance in the upcoming 2023 season which kicks off this Friday night.

The Reds were eager participants in the annual merry go  ‘round of players which occurs in the close season, and Duff has overseen the departure of ten players from the club with eight new arrivals on board ahead of their opening match this weekend

The new recruits so far are: Conor Kearns (Galway United), Tyreke Wilson (Bohemians), Kyle Robinson (St Patrick's Athletic), Andrew Quinn (Drogheda United), Evan Caffrey (UCD), Matty Smith (Derry City), Paddy Barrett (St Patrick's Athletic) and Kian Leavy (Reading - loan).

Some of the more notable departures from the club include veteran goalkeeper Brendan Clarke who has gone west to link up with John Caulfield’s Galway United, exciting prospect Stephen Negru who has joined Oxford United and combative midfielder Aodh Dervin who is gone back to his former club Longford Town on loan.

Shels showed good form in their preseason matches, defeating Bray Wanderers (1-0) and Treaty United (2-1) at home and recording a 1-1 draw away at Galway United last week, new on loan signing Leavy getting their goal.

“Our two long term injuries are out still, the good news though is that Conor Kane is making progress, he’s back running which gave us all a big boost to see Conor on the grass. He’s brilliant, we all think the world of Conor. It’s really pleasing to see him step up in his recovery,” manager Damien Duff said, speaking to the club’s media team.

“Jad Hakiki is still out, listen it’s been a long road for him, he’s doing light work at the moment though. Shane Griffin has a slight muscular problem and will be a doubt for tomorrow.

“Luke Byrne went off in our last friendly, Luke has been dealing with a knee issue, but he’s ready to go now. Luke, fans know Luke well now, Luke is never a doubt, he is a warrior, he puts his body on the line. Luke is fit and available.”

“There’s certainly a rivalry there with Drogheda United, that’s alive and kicking and flared up a few times last year. We’re familiar with them and expect a tough game from Drogheda. This point so early on, start of the season we’re concentrating on ourselves and our game plan and getting it right, we won’t be too focused on the opposition. 

“Rivalry is a good thing, but we have to focus on the task at hand, three points, don’t get involved in any shenanigans on the bench or the sideline. Cool and calm heads.”

DROGHEDA UNITED

16 of the Boynesiders 2022 squad have re-signed for the new season but there has still been a lot of transfer activity at the County Louth club during the off season with 10 new arrivals replacing the 13 players who have left the club.

Key players such as Colin McCabe (goalkeeper), midfielders Darragh Markey and Ryan Brennan as well as striker Adam Foley will most likely form the backbone of the team this season but they will certainly be strengthened by the addition of the likes of Sean Brennan from UCD, former academy player Aaron McNally who joins from USL League Two side Brazos Valley Cavalry and on loan signing Michael Leddy who was with Shamrock Rovers last year.

They finished the 2022 season on 38 points and although they ended up in eighth place, they were never really in any relegation trouble and were 12 points clear of second from bottom UCD when the season finished in November 2022.

Their home ground has been renamed Weavers Park (a local restaurant and bar venue in the town) and they had a good 2-0 win over Athlone Town in a Leinster Senior Cup tie last week, Darragh Markey getting both goals.

Drogs manager Kevin Doherty is acutely aware that he is operating off one of the lowest budgets of all the teams in the Premier Division, but is nevertheless eagerly looking forward to the challenges ahead in the new season.

 He told the Irish Sun during the week: “We lost players that I wanted to keep but in the last couple of weeks we’ve started to put a bit of shape of it.

“The budget is down from last year which was the lowest in the league bar UCD which is a different model.

“Obviously I would have liked it to have been more but the club are where they are with investment talks.

“It’s too late for this year and we just have to try to make the most of it.

“For what we brought to the league last year and even in the Jim Malone Cup, the crowd and atmosphere is so good and that’s what I can sell players.

“I couldn’t pay them whatever other clubs are but I can certainly sell a lot of players the opportunity to play in the Premier Division.

“As much as I go on about budgets, it’s done now, I’m going to park it because it’s not going to change.

“I’m more than happy with the players that we’ve managed to bring in on that budget.’’

Referee: Paul McGlaughlin

MATCH STATS

The four games between the two sides last season saw Duff’s team pick up nine points from the maximum 12 available. Drogheda did win the third of the four games by 3-1 at home in August, while Shelbourne won all three remaining fixtures including a 6-0 drubbing in Tolka Park in late October. Sean Boyd scored a brace of goals in that game with the others coming from Jack Moylan, JR Wilson, Matty Smyth and Aodh Dervin.

PREDICTION

Shelbourne 2-0 Drogheda United

BETTING

Shelbourne 53/100; Draw 3/1;Drogheda United17/4

Shelbourne

Injured: Jad Hakiki

Doubtful: Shane Griffin

Suspended: None

Drogheda United

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None