High-flying Drogheda United still keeping their feet on the ground ahead of Waterford clash
DROGHEDA United go into Friday's final SSE Airtricity League Premier Division game before the mid-season break a massive 17 points clear of second-bottom Cork City - but manager Kevin Doherty is still not prepared to state that his team no longer need to worry about the threat of relegation.
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The Irish Sun
19 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Drogheda United coach claims ‘Drogs should be treated the same as PSG' by Uefa over European participation debacle
DAIRE Doyle insisted Uefa must treat Drogheda United like they would Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain. Drogs Advertisement 2 Drogheda United were crowned FAI Cup champions to earn a place in European Qualifications 2 The 44-year-old is hoping Drogheda United will be allowed compete in Europe Both clubs are owned by the US-based Trivela Group, who also own Walsall, and Uefa has strict rules regarding multi-club ownership models and competing in Europe. And the Drogs' position is in peril as rules dictate that where there is joint ownership, the club that finished lower in their league is the one to miss out. There are precedents from the past. Manchester City put their 47 per cent ownership of Spanish outfit Girona in blind trust so both clubs could compete in the Champions League. And Uefa are in discussions with Trivela — Crystal Palace and Lyon are in a similar situation — with a ruling expected next week. Advertisement Read more on Irish football Assistant boss Doyle said that it is important that Drogheda get the same treatment as any European giant. He said: 'You'd hope the procedures should follow. Drogheda should be treated the same as PSG. I know the club have been in contact with Uefa over the past number of months, they're doing all they can. 'And they've let me know that they're hopeful that we can see a positive outcome to it all. 'There has been work done over a period of time to do what we need to do to find a solution to it. Advertisement Most read in Football 'People will speculate on the bad side rather than the good side. If you take history, there are clubs and ownership models similar to ourselves where both clubs have been in competitions and in some cases the same competition. 'So we can take that precedent that has been set over the last few years and we will be hopeful that will be no different to ourselves. Watch Robbie Brady aim hilarious dig at Ireland teammates after winning Player of the Year award 'Obviously until that does come out, you are going to have the people of Drogheda, supporters, players — everyone is going to talk until a decision is there. That is to be expected.' Doyle acknowledged that it has been something Trivela have been looking into since they first proposed buying 80 per cent of Silkeborg in December. Advertisement That was a month after the Drogs secured European football by DISTANT RELATIVES And Doyle admitted that, while both clubs have the same owners, there have been few dealings between them. He said: 'There wouldn't be too much contact with Silkeborg to be honest. "The Walsall one, there would be more of a link there because obviously we've had players on loan from them, they've come over and played against us last year. Advertisement 'It was a situation that could arise with another top-level country, so it was something I'm sure Trivela were aware could arise and they have been talking over the last couple of months. 'Hopefully we are in a position where ourselves and Silkeborg can both play in Europe.' Meanwhile, Doyle was pleased that the Drogs have got a home draw for when their FAI Cup defence begins next month. They will host Leinster Senior League outfit Crumlin United. Doyle knows the league well as his son Jack plays for Home Farm, and he has regularly seen Crumlin this season. Advertisement The Drogs assistant said: 'I've seen quite a few games this year, they've quite a few good players. James Lee is an excellent manager and former player as well. 'We're really happy we got a home draw, that's the most important thing. 'We'll do our homework on Crumlin now and make sure we find out as much as we can about them before the game.'
Irish Examiner
21 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Cathal O'Sullivan and Co. have shown they 'belong' after stepping up to Ireland U21s
The young talents that exist within the League of Ireland have become integral to Jim Crawford's Republic of Ireland under-21 set-up of late. With a substantial chunk of his current squad actively playing for or having progressed through the ranks at domestic clubs, that is no different this time around. The three latest to graduate to this level while still plying their trade on these shores are Cork City starlet Cathal O'Sullivan, Shamrock Rovers' Cory O'Sullivan and Drogheda United's Warren Davis. Much like Spurs-bound wonderkid Mason Melia - who misses out through injury - and more before the St Patrick's Athletic front-man, they've not only fit right in at under-21 international level, they "belong" at the standard. Crawford has testified to that, having seen the trio up close and personal in Zagreb ahead of their meetings with Croatia on Friday and Qatar under-23s next week. "They've been great, they really have been," Ireland boss Crawford said. "It's been no issue to them, they haven't looked out of place and I think what they've said, without them knowing, is: 'I belong here.' "I've said it to Cathal. Last year when he was playing in the First Division, I thought he was outstanding and then when they got promoted, I said 'great', He has that taste now of being in a league-winning team so now it's going to be a serious challenge at Cork City, knowing the resources that they have regards budgets. "Are they going to be at the top of the table? No, so it was going to be a challenge for him and it was one that I was certainly excited to see and he's grabbed it with both hands, he's been excellent, he really has. He's exciting crowds, the way he plays, and I'm excited to see him playing for us." Outside - and inside - noise on the 18-year-old's ability and his potential going forward has been rife. His departure to England is now a case of when, not if, with FA Cup winners Crystal Palace closing in. Former City boss Tim Clancy previously referenced the €2 million fee garnered for Melia, noting that the City winger would be worth five times that amount. Current teammate Seani Maguire recently dubbed him "the best teenager in the country". With that aforementioned noise comes a need for a cool head and a focus on the day-to-day goings on. Crawford is in no doubt as to O'Sullivan's credentials in that regard. "He's a very level-headed chap, which is hugely important with all that noise that goes on when somebody is playing well. I've seen it with players, where players lose the run of themselves with all that external stuff coming from social media, or from other people around the game. "He's a well-balanced individual... He's played some big games for Cork and he's been excellent, he really has. He works exceptionally hard on the training ground, there's no airs and graces about him." If O'Sullivan has shone for City at the wrong end of the table, his namesake Cory O'Sullivan (19) at Rovers, and Davis (20) - scoring at will up-top for high-flying Drogs - have done equally as well in the upper echelons of the Premier Division. "Cory, for somebody so young, playing with the top team in the league and looking so comfortable, he's been excellent. It's when you get up close to him and have a conversation, you realise how young he is, but he certainly plays with a maturity and a know-how that merits his inclusion. "Warren's been having a great year. He knows that he's at a stage where this will help him develop even more. What I love about him is his hunger to become a better player; he's worked tirelessly. It's been a great season for him so far. "The lads have represented the league unbelievably well," Crawford concluded.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Drogheda assistant boss Daire Doyle ‘confident' club's European dreams won't be dashed as talks with Uefa continue
Drogheda United discovered their FAI Cup second round date yesterday – they have Crumlin United at home with a potential €700k bounty awaiting them should they retain it.
