Consolidation the aim for Cooke

After a second place finish in the Airtricity League last season and an EA Sports Cup triumph, Drogheda United were the surprise package of the 2012 campaign. Now looking forward to the new season, manager Mick Cooke spoke to Extratime.ieat the ‘League Launch’ and he felt that consolidation should be the main aim.

“I am really looking forward to it. It's great to get going now. We are looking to consolidate what we did last year. If we can do that then it will be another good season for us.” 

Pre-season can be a tough time for the players but Cooke feels that his sides pre-season has gone very well and pointed to the Setanta Cup as a massive plus.

“Absolutely, pre-season has been great. We have had a few competitive games already. The games against Portadown and Derry City in the Setanta Cup has been a massive help to us and if you look at the results against Portadown, it shows that we have really hit the ground running.”

With the success of 2012, it brings about more competitions and different pressures in 2013 however the former Monaghan United boss is confident that his squad will be able to handle the pressures and also the many competitions that they are involved in.

“We have more competitions this year but we have prioritised every competition. We have to treat every competition the same. We are treating the Leinster Senior Cup the exact same as the FAI Cup and we’re entering every competition to win them. I’ll have different squads to play different competitions and the players playing in those games, will be looking to go all the way for sure.”

Drogheda United have inevitably lost a few players but have managed to replace them with some excellent signings and of course the 61 year-old is pleased with his transfer dealings and believes they have added to the existing squad.

“The new signings have settled in very well. We have even been strengthening right up until now. All the new lads have added greatly to the squad. I’m fairly confident that the players who have come in will replicate what those who left have done.”