Survival on the mind for Darragh Markey and Drogheda United as season finale looms

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Credit: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Drogheda United midfielder Darragh Markey knows how important it is for the Boynesiders to ensure top-flight survival this season.

And he believes boss Kevin Doherty has got things right in terms of recruitment this term with a strong upturn in results since the mid-season break.

Drogheda are currently ninth in the table and one point ahead of bottom side Dundalk with a game in hand. 

They are also in the FAI Cup semi-final with a tie against Wexford in store next month.

“It's been a lot better since the turn of the season,” Markey told extratime.com at the launch of EA FC 25. “The first half of the season was really disappointing but we've a chance in the last two months. Every game is going to be absolutely crucial for us.

“It's been disappointing at times but we've still got a great chance to make it a really good season at the same time.

“We brought in a few bodies and I think that's made a big difference. I always thought that our performances were good at times and we just were maybe just a few bodies away from having a good side there.

“The recruitment was quite good from Kev. Hopefully that will keep going now. The strength in depth that I think we were missing is there now and hopefully it stays.”

As the only part-time outfit in the Premier Division this season, Markey admits the challenge for Drogheda to stay up has got harder.

But he has backed this current crop of Boynesiders to stay up. 



“We're the only part time team in the league this year,” he explained. “We've probably beaten expectations over the last few years but I think this year probably just caught up on us a bit. 

“But Kev and Daire deserve so much credit with his recruitment and how we've defied expectations over the last few years. But I think there was always going to come a time when we kind of needed to progress. And there's only so much that I think Daire (Doyle) and Kev can do until the next step needs to be made. 

“Luckily the new ownership has come in and they've already done really good things to the club. But I think just a few more steps need to be made until it’s a top club.”

Drogheda, who won the cup in 2005, can reach the FAI Cup final for the first time since 2013 next month when they host Wexford in a semi-final at Weavers Park. 

But survival is the aim and Markey admits he would rather that than win an FAI Cup in the circumstances as a vital league clash against Bohemians looms on Friday. 

“Staying up first,” he replied. “It has to be. I’d say every player would agree with me on that. “Performances have been good of late so we are just focusing on ourselves and hoping the results will come with the good performances.



“But at the same time, results are crucial. We need to pick them up over the next few weeks with massive games coming up.”

Win For The Club as EA SPORTS FC announces the return of the League of Ireland to FC 25! Featuring the individual club crest of all 10 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division teams, these exclusive sleeves will be available to download free from https://www.ea.com/fc25 when the game launches worldwide Friday, September 27th! 

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