2020 Season Preview - Drogheda United

Manager: Tim Clancy.

Stadium: United Park.

 

Players in: Derek Prendergast (Shelbourne), Brandon Bermingham (Bohemians), Jack Tuite (Cabinteely), Hugh Douglas (Bray Wanderers), Ross Treacy (Dundalk), Richie O’Farrell (UCD), David Odumosu (Dundalk).  

Players out: Jamie Hollywood (Crumlin United), Kevin Farragher (Galway United), Luke McNally (St Patrick’s Athletic - End of loan), Luke Gallagher (Unattached), Paul Skinner (retired), Eoin McPhillips (Cabinteely).

 

Extratime.ie Key Man: Mark Doyle

Forward Mark Doyle has the potential to certainly make 2020 a year to remember for both himself and Drogheda United.

2018 saw Doyle being taken under the wings of Tim Clancy, where he became a first-team regular at United Park, scoring nine goals in 34 appearances.

Doyle again re-signed for Drogheda in 2019, his fourth season at senior level at the club, recorded his best goal return to date, finding the net 13 times in 31 appearances.



Extratime.ie One to Watch: Luke Heeney

A promising defensive midfielder by trade, Luke Heeney of Drogheda United will certainly be looking to push once more in the First Division in 2020.

The former St Patrick’s Athletic prodigy joined the Boynesiders at the start of the 2019 campaign, before he made 26 league appearances for the club while also playing a key role in United’s playoff odyssey.

20-year-old Heeney is yet another valuable asset that the Co. Louth side have taken under their wings from Premier Division St Patrick’s Athletic – and should he continue in the same vein as to his forward momentum of last term, Tim Clancy and co. will only benefit from this in 2020.

 

How they did last season:



League:

Drogheda United will most certainly be wondering what may very well have been should they have defeated eventual league winners Shelbourne on the penultimate league game of the season at United Park.

A win would have seen the Boynesiders placed in pole position to clinch the First Division, but it wasn’t to be as they were forced to contend with a playoff berth.

And after breezing past Cabinteely, the Drogs were eventually undone by Ollie Horgan’s Finn Harps in the Playoffs – ensuring they would remain in the second tier for another year. 

FAI Cup:

After stunning Shamrock Rovers in the 2018 FAI Cup, Tim Clancy’s Drogs were unable to repeat the trick against the Hoops in 2019 as they bowed out against their top-flight opposition at Tallaght Stadium.

The Boynesiders earned their place in the second round after seeing off Avondale United in their opening round clash.

Mark Doyle and Ryan O’Shea both scored either side John Donovan’s leveller for the visitors, but Rovers ended up proving a bridge too far for the Co. Louth side in the next round.

EA Sports Cup:

Drogheda only had one EA Sports Cup outing in 2019 as they crashed out of the tournament at the first hurdle at home to Cabinteely.

Luke Clucas’ spot-kick was the difference between the sides, as Cabo marched on at the expense of a much-changed Drogheda at United Park. 

 

What to expect this season:

Retaining a number of their 2019 stars, and recruiting well during the off-season, Drogheda United have been installed as the bookies early favourite to win the First Division.

The retention of key men such as Mark Doyle, Chris Lyons, Adam Wixted, Conor Kane and Jake Hyland will prove pivotal, as will the recruitment of high-calibre players.

Richie O’Farrell from UCD is one that will catch the eye in the second tier, and few can dismiss the quality brought to the table by new defensive signings Jack Tuite, Derek Prendergast and Hugh Douglas.

A potentially important re-signing will be that of Sean Brennan. Brennan’s knack for scoring important goals and his experience will be a major part of the Drogs promotion hunt one may suggest.

In terms of a prediction for Drogheda, it is hard to suggest anything other than a title challenge at United Park.  

They certainly have the quality to produce big results and performances – but they will also be aware that they will have a different pressure on themselves this term rather than last year’s tag of being underdogs. 

 

Title Odds: 5/2.

First game: Cobh Ramblers (away).