McNally - It's do or die time
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“Do or Die,” this is the message coming out of the Drogheda United camp ahead of Sunday’s relegation clash according to Drogheda captain Alan McNally who was speaking exclusively to Extratime.ie.
The central defender insists that despite some “listless” performances his side are focused on their task on Sunday.
“It’s the biggest game of the season and if we don’t win that’s it, it’s been a long hard season for us, both on and off the field and it’s really do or die for us on Sunday. We will be giving it 110% to try and get the right result and bring it down to the wire with two games to go.”
Drogheda go up against a Bray side who have failed to win in their last two outings but who have performed a Lazarus like resurgence and will guarantee a playoff spot with any result against the Boynesiders. But McNally insists that at this stage of the season his side have nothing to lose so will give it their all.
“It won’t be easy, they are on a bit of a run themselves and they will be confident going into the game, but we are looking at it like we have nothing to lose so we might as well go and give it and hopefully there will be a bit of pressure on them, if they lose it then we are right back in it.”
Preparations have been hindered somewhat with the managerial merry go-round at Drogheda when after Brian Donnelly’s resignation assistant manager Darius Kierans was asked to step down in order to bring in former Drogheda player and Monaghan manager Bobby Browne who has only had two games with the side.
“It doesn’t help, let’s put it that way, but unfortunately the clubs hands have been tied with the managerial thing. Obviously Brian left and we needed to get a manager in and Bobby has come in and has done the best he can to try and keep the club in the Premier Division and we have been working hard but obviously the performances against Pats and Fingal were very poor and it’s up to the players on the pitch when they cross that line it’s up to them and Sunday is the best time to prove it. “
When looking back on the season there are many factors that can be taken into context when viewing Drogheda’s perilous position but one which may be overlooked is that of ‘luck’, a thing which has abandoned the Claret and Blue side as of late. McNally feels his side have been devoid of good fortune and also feels some poor refereeing decisions have had a hand in their current plight.
“We do deserve that little bit of luck, we haven’t gotten in through the season. We just haven’t been getting the decisions, referees are a different breed in this country and I just don’t know what they do be looking at and most of the times I just can’t see what they see and it’s been like that for most of the season and if decisions had gone our way we could be higher in the table, but that could be said for most teams in this league.”
However despite all the speculation and humming and hawing over things ultimately the Drogheda captain admits that no matter what has happened that it all comes down to Sunday.
“It’s down to this game on Sunday, we played well in Sligo but we didn’t play well on Tuesday, it was probably our worst performance of the season and we need to build confidence now but maybe we just need one result to change that but it hasn’t been happening, it’s been one draw in the last seven games and hopefully a win on Sunday we’ll get right back into it, three points behind them with two games remaining I’ll take that.”
The central defender insists that despite some “listless” performances his side are focused on their task on Sunday.
“It’s the biggest game of the season and if we don’t win that’s it, it’s been a long hard season for us, both on and off the field and it’s really do or die for us on Sunday. We will be giving it 110% to try and get the right result and bring it down to the wire with two games to go.”
Drogheda go up against a Bray side who have failed to win in their last two outings but who have performed a Lazarus like resurgence and will guarantee a playoff spot with any result against the Boynesiders. But McNally insists that at this stage of the season his side have nothing to lose so will give it their all.
“It won’t be easy, they are on a bit of a run themselves and they will be confident going into the game, but we are looking at it like we have nothing to lose so we might as well go and give it and hopefully there will be a bit of pressure on them, if they lose it then we are right back in it.”
Preparations have been hindered somewhat with the managerial merry go-round at Drogheda when after Brian Donnelly’s resignation assistant manager Darius Kierans was asked to step down in order to bring in former Drogheda player and Monaghan manager Bobby Browne who has only had two games with the side.
“It doesn’t help, let’s put it that way, but unfortunately the clubs hands have been tied with the managerial thing. Obviously Brian left and we needed to get a manager in and Bobby has come in and has done the best he can to try and keep the club in the Premier Division and we have been working hard but obviously the performances against Pats and Fingal were very poor and it’s up to the players on the pitch when they cross that line it’s up to them and Sunday is the best time to prove it. “
When looking back on the season there are many factors that can be taken into context when viewing Drogheda’s perilous position but one which may be overlooked is that of ‘luck’, a thing which has abandoned the Claret and Blue side as of late. McNally feels his side have been devoid of good fortune and also feels some poor refereeing decisions have had a hand in their current plight.
“We do deserve that little bit of luck, we haven’t gotten in through the season. We just haven’t been getting the decisions, referees are a different breed in this country and I just don’t know what they do be looking at and most of the times I just can’t see what they see and it’s been like that for most of the season and if decisions had gone our way we could be higher in the table, but that could be said for most teams in this league.”
However despite all the speculation and humming and hawing over things ultimately the Drogheda captain admits that no matter what has happened that it all comes down to Sunday.
“It’s down to this game on Sunday, we played well in Sligo but we didn’t play well on Tuesday, it was probably our worst performance of the season and we need to build confidence now but maybe we just need one result to change that but it hasn’t been happening, it’s been one draw in the last seven games and hopefully a win on Sunday we’ll get right back into it, three points behind them with two games remaining I’ll take that.”
About P.J. Murray
P.J. generally covers Drogheda games at HD Park and can generally be found at any Dublin ground when of a loose end on a Friday night. View Full Profile