Season Preview 2017 - Drogheda United

Manager: Pete Mahon

Stadium: United Park

Players in: Killian Brennan, Gavin Brennan, Gareth McCaffrey, Richie Purdy (Shamrock Rovers), Thomas Byrne (Brighton & Hove Albion), Stephen Elliott (Free Agent), Jamie Hollywood (Bohemians), Conor Kane, Shane Elworthy (St. Patrick's Athletic), Ciaran McGuigan (Lansdowne Bhoys).

Players out: Patrick Dunican (Released), Ken Costello (Skerries), Adam Clarke (Malahide United), Derek Doyle (Retired), John McKeown, Liam Donnelly (Wexford), Jackson Ryan, Aaron Ashe (Shelbourne), Sam O'Connor (Carrick Rangers).

Extratime.ie Key Man: Gareth McCaffrey

Drogheda have made a number of key signings in the off-season, most notably Killian and Gavin Brennan along with former Ireland international Stephen Elliott. The Boynesiders will need Stephen McGuinness, but it may well be Gareth McCaffrey who proves to be the key player for the Louth side this season.

McCaffrey has now signed for Drogheda after joining the Boynesiders on loan from Shamrock Rovers mid-way through last season. McCaffrey went on to score six goals in 12 games, including a goal in either leg of the First Division play-off against Cobh Ramblers, whom he also scored a brace against in the league.

Like last season, McCaffrey has largely played on the wing during pre-season, scoring a brace in a 4-1 victory over Drogheda Town and a stunning long range effort in a 5-1 victory over Cabinteely. Drogheda boss Pete Mahon will be hoping the former Rovers man finds the same form he showed last season as Drogheda look to stay in the top flight of Irish football.

Extratime.ie One to Watch: Thomas Byrne

The versatile teenager, signed by his hometown club from Brighton & Hove Albion, can play in midfield, on the wing and as a striker. Byrne has impressed in pre-season, scoring in victories over Drogheda Town and Ballinamallard United.

Byrne’s most likely starting position looks set to be in the midfield three of Pete Mahon’s starting eleven, which will likely be a 4-3-3 setup. The teenager will face stiff competition regardless of what position he plays in. In central midfield alone, Byrne will have Killian Brennan, Richie Purdy, Jake Hyland, Jamie Hollywood, Sean Thornton and Sean Brennan to compete with.

Conor Kane, who has recently been part of the Irish under-19 squad that took part in the La Manga tournament in Spain, is another player to watch. The former St. Patrick’s Athletic underage player impressed in pre-season for Drogheda and will look to challenge Stephen Dunne at left-back.

How they did last season:

League: Promotion via play-off.

Drogheda United finished second in the First Division thanks to a victory over UCD on the final day of the normal season. That victory meant Drogheda progressed to the First Division play-off against Cobh Ramblers.

After winning the first leg 2-0 in Cobh, Drogheda saw that advantage wiped out inside the first eight minutes of the second leg. However, a Gareth McCaffrey strike in the second half sent Drogheda through to the play-off final against Wexford.

Drogheda lost the first leg 2-0 in Wexford before producing an extraordinary turnaround at United Park in the second leg to win 3-0 and seal promotion back to the Premier Division at the first attempt.

FAI Cup: Second Round.

Drogheda were knocked out of the Cup by Derry City in a second round replay. A 1-1 draw in Derry, a game in which Sam O'Connor scored in for Drogheda and Stephen McGuinness produced arguably his best performance of the season, saw the tie go to a replay. However, it was Derry City who progressed in the replay thanks to goals from Rory Patterson and Josh Daniels either side of a Sean Thornton penalty.

EA Sports Cup: First Round.

Drogheda were knocked out in the first round of the FAI Cup by non-league Bluebell United. An uneventful 0-0 draw after extra-time saw the game go to penalties and it was Bluebell who went through 4-3 on penalties.

What to expect this season:

The first aim for any newly promoted club is to not to get relegated the following season. However, that task is much more difficult this season for Drogheda than it has been for previous clubs. With the bottom three clubs now being automatically relegated from the Premier Division due to the controversial restructuring of the league, Drogheda will have to finish at least 9th if they are to stay up.

That has to be the aim and to do that Drogheda will need their stars from last season, in particular Stephen McGuinness, Luke Gallagher and Gareth McCaffrey to again impress. The added experience of new signings Stephen Elliott and brothers Gavin and Killian Brennan will be key if Drogheda are to stay up.

Under-19 goalkeeper Jamie Hickey will back up Stephen McGuinness but outfield Pete Mahon has signed players that will mean there is stiff competition across the park.

In defence, the returning Ciaran McGuigan will challenge Gallagher and Kevin Farragher at the centre of the Drogheda back four while Kane and Stephen Dunne will compete at left back. At right-back, Colm Deasy and Lloyd Buckley will battle it out with versatile under-19 Eoghan Dempsey ready to step in if needed.

As mentioned already, Thomas Byrne, Killian Brennan, Richie Purdy, Jake Hyland, Jamie Hollywood, Sean Thornton and Sean Brennan are all set to compete for just three starting places in a likely three man Drogheda midfield.

Out wide, Gareth McCaffrey, Adam Wixted and Gavin Brennan are three players who will primarily be competing to start while Thomas Byrne and under-19 star Mark Doyle are both capable of playing a wide role.

Marc Griffin and Stephen Elliott look set to battle it out up front in a position that McCaffrey and Byrne can both also play in. Also, according to local reports, there is the potential of American trialist Joe Efford joining the pair, should he be granted international clearance.

Title Odds: 500/1

First game: Galway United (away), Friday, February 24^th (kick-off 7.45pm).