Dundalk trio on Drogs wish list
Credit:
Drogheda United manager Alan Mathews is looking to finalise deals with six more players, including former Dundalk trio, striker Robbie Martin, winger Jamie Duffy and centre-half Ian Ryan, all of whom worked under Mathews at Longford Town two seasons ago. Midfielder Gavin Whelan, meanwhile, is in line for a return to United Park after a short absence, while winger John Paul Kelly and defender Conor Kenna are also Drogheda bound.
Martin, Duffy and Ryan are three of an astonishing 20 players that were released by Dundalk shortly after the Lilywhites won the First Division title in November. All three were ever-presents in John Gill's team in the opening months of the season, before injuries curtailed Martin's campaign and, later, Ryan was frozen out after a score draw in Athlone in September. Duffy, though, ended the year joint-top of the club's league appearances list, while he also notched eight goals along the way.
Mathews previously signed the trio for Longford, who paid a fee of €10,000 for Martin in early 2006. Prior to that, Robbie had spent his first six seasons in the League of Ireland with UCD, during which period he won the PFAI Young Player of the Year in 2002 before finishing as the club's top scorer during their promotion winning season in 2004. The highlight of his time at Longford was scoring the only goal in the midlanders' FAI Cup semi-final win over UCD at Belfield in 2007.
Unfortunately for the Leixlip-born forward, his one season at Dundalk was cut short by injuries after a bright opening at Oriel Park saw him score three goals in his first two home outings. A nasty knee problem, which Martin was forced to go under the knife to cure, was followed shortly after his return by a serious back injury, which also had to be operated on. He picked up his first league medal days after that surgery as Dundalk pipped Shelbourne to the title. However, despite fears that he would never play again, the 26-year-old looks set to return to the league with Drogheda.
Duffy and Ryan, on the other hand, have played under Mathews for just half a season to date, as they both left Shamrock Rovers midway through 2007 to join Longford on-loan. Duffy, a Texas born 25-year-old, previously played at Kilkenny City under Pat Scully, before winning a First Division title with Rovers under the same manager in 2006. Ryan, still only 21, came through the Hoops' under-21 set-up and made his senior debut for the club in 2005. He was also part of Rovers' league success over two years ago. The pair, like Martin, have been without a club since being released by Dundalk in December, though Duffy was recently training with Longford and was reported to be close to completing a return to Flancare Park before his former boss was handed the reins at Drogheda.
In contrast, Whelan, Kelly and Kenna will be three players that Mathews has not worked with before at club level, though he has worked with the latter duo in the Irish under-23 set-up. Whelan will be very familiar with United Park, having won a Premier Division, an FAI Cup and two Setanta Sports Cups over a three-season spell there. Whelan, who previously played for Home Farm and UCD, left Drogheda after that league win, but is set for a quick return to Boyneside after spending last year at Bray Wanderers. Both Kelly and Kenna have only had one League of Ireland club to date. Kelly had been at Bohemians since 2005 before being released after their League and Cup double last November, while Kenna is set to leave UCD after five seasons following their relegation last term.
Mathews currently has only two players contracted at Drogheda, after signing Steve Williams and Alan McNally at the end of last week. However, the 43-year-old has recently held largely populated training sessions in a bid to build a squad ahead of the league kick-off on 6 March. The club have already been forced to cancel next Saturday’s planned Jim Malone Cup clash with near neighbours Dundalk, but they should be in a position to field a team against Shelbourne on Friday week, in a friendly which is set for United Park.
Martin, Duffy and Ryan are three of an astonishing 20 players that were released by Dundalk shortly after the Lilywhites won the First Division title in November. All three were ever-presents in John Gill's team in the opening months of the season, before injuries curtailed Martin's campaign and, later, Ryan was frozen out after a score draw in Athlone in September. Duffy, though, ended the year joint-top of the club's league appearances list, while he also notched eight goals along the way.
Mathews previously signed the trio for Longford, who paid a fee of €10,000 for Martin in early 2006. Prior to that, Robbie had spent his first six seasons in the League of Ireland with UCD, during which period he won the PFAI Young Player of the Year in 2002 before finishing as the club's top scorer during their promotion winning season in 2004. The highlight of his time at Longford was scoring the only goal in the midlanders' FAI Cup semi-final win over UCD at Belfield in 2007.
Unfortunately for the Leixlip-born forward, his one season at Dundalk was cut short by injuries after a bright opening at Oriel Park saw him score three goals in his first two home outings. A nasty knee problem, which Martin was forced to go under the knife to cure, was followed shortly after his return by a serious back injury, which also had to be operated on. He picked up his first league medal days after that surgery as Dundalk pipped Shelbourne to the title. However, despite fears that he would never play again, the 26-year-old looks set to return to the league with Drogheda.
Duffy and Ryan, on the other hand, have played under Mathews for just half a season to date, as they both left Shamrock Rovers midway through 2007 to join Longford on-loan. Duffy, a Texas born 25-year-old, previously played at Kilkenny City under Pat Scully, before winning a First Division title with Rovers under the same manager in 2006. Ryan, still only 21, came through the Hoops' under-21 set-up and made his senior debut for the club in 2005. He was also part of Rovers' league success over two years ago. The pair, like Martin, have been without a club since being released by Dundalk in December, though Duffy was recently training with Longford and was reported to be close to completing a return to Flancare Park before his former boss was handed the reins at Drogheda.
In contrast, Whelan, Kelly and Kenna will be three players that Mathews has not worked with before at club level, though he has worked with the latter duo in the Irish under-23 set-up. Whelan will be very familiar with United Park, having won a Premier Division, an FAI Cup and two Setanta Sports Cups over a three-season spell there. Whelan, who previously played for Home Farm and UCD, left Drogheda after that league win, but is set for a quick return to Boyneside after spending last year at Bray Wanderers. Both Kelly and Kenna have only had one League of Ireland club to date. Kelly had been at Bohemians since 2005 before being released after their League and Cup double last November, while Kenna is set to leave UCD after five seasons following their relegation last term.
Mathews currently has only two players contracted at Drogheda, after signing Steve Williams and Alan McNally at the end of last week. However, the 43-year-old has recently held largely populated training sessions in a bid to build a squad ahead of the league kick-off on 6 March. The club have already been forced to cancel next Saturday’s planned Jim Malone Cup clash with near neighbours Dundalk, but they should be in a position to field a team against Shelbourne on Friday week, in a friendly which is set for United Park.
