It’s been a year of many different emotions for Drogheda United fans, unbeaten runs, a fantastic start, top of the league chants, a dispute with UEFA and from just surviving via the play-offs last season to a best league finish since 2012.But it’s been a year that will no doubt bring back renewed hope into Drogheda United football.

2024 Recap

Following a 3-1 win over Bray Wanderers in the relegation/promotion play-off last season, Drogheda fans were hoping that Kevin Doherty’s men could steer clear of the relegation zone this season. However, Drogheda would be looking forward to a European tour as their FAI Cup victory from last year would mean that they would enter the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round stage, the first time the club would play a European fixture since 2013.

United needed to replace the likes of Andrew Moran, Jack Keaney and Frantz Pierrot who left the club over the off-season, as well as veteran defensive midfielder Gary Deegan who retired. Drogheda responded by bolstering their squad, with new arrivals a plenty at Sullivan & Lambe Park. The likes of Owen Lambe and the return of Conor Keeley all came through the door as Drogheda looked to maintain their Premier division status.

Brilliant Start To 2025

Drogheda United’s  season started with a 2-0 lose against Shelbourne in the FAI Presidents Cup in Tolka Park, however this form would not continue into the start 2025 League Of Ireland Premier Division campaign as Drogheda went opening 5 games of the season unbeaten, including three victories over Sligo Rovers, Bohemians and 2024 league champions, Shelbourne, keeping four clean sheets in the process. Their unbeaten start to the season would fall to eventual league champions Shamrock Rovers. Nevertheless, Drogheda would respond by going their next five games unbeaten.

After matchday eleven of the Premier division, Drogheda United were top of the table, only suffering one defeat. They sat at the top of the league for six of the opening eleven matchdays.

While the new signings made an immediate impact with Luke Dennison being the starting number one, keeping six clean sheets in the opening eleven league games and Conor Keeley being an ever-present at the back, the old faces at the club such as Ryan Brennan and Darragh Markey played huge roles in not only the amazing start to the season that the club had, but the fantastic season the club had as a whole. Under the stewardship of manager Kevin Doherty, the 3-4-1-2, low block set-up has made Drogheda a very hard team to beat and break down, becoming a bogey team and a dreaded away trip for many clubs in the Premier Division in 2025.

 

UEFA Dispute

Due to Drogheda United winning the FAI Cup last season, the club would enter the first round qualifying stage of the UEFA Conference League. However, the club would be expelled from the Conference League, due to the fact that UEFA rules state that two clubs in the same competition cannot be under the same ownership.

Drogheda United, who are part of the Trivela Group, a U.S based multi-club organisation, could not compete in the competition as Silkeborg IF also qualified for the competition and are under the ownership of the Trivela Group as well. Drogheda tried to appeal the decision, however the appeal was rejected by the Court of Arbitration of Sport. Fans described the expulsion as a “farce” and were “shocked” by the decision. A club which last played in European competition in 2013, against Malmo, would have to wait a little longer to play in Europe again.

Midseason Draws

During the midway point of the season, Drogheda would make a habit of drawing games. After losing the Shamrock Rovers for the second time this season 3-0, Drogheda would draw four of the next six games, against the likes of Derry City, Shelbourne, Waterford and St Pat’s, and only won one of those six games, against Bohemians 1-0 thanks to a Douglas James-Taylor penalty.

While their low block would make Drogheda hard to beat, it also made it hard for them to find the back of the net. Drogheda over the course of the season would score the third least amount of goals in the Premier Division with 38. Only Galway United (37) and Cork City (33) scored less. Drogheda’s top goal scorers for the season would be Conor Keeley and Warren Davis, both with 7 goals each.

That being said, Drogheda would still register a few wins during the middle part of the season. They would get two 1-0 victories over west of Ireland sides Galway United and Sligo Rovers. A further win over Bohemians would cancel out losses suffered against Derry City, St Pat’s and Shamrock Rovers again, both in the league and in the cup quarter final.

Mixed End Of Season Form

Drogheda would have a slightly muted end to the season. After losing to Shamrock Rovers in the quarter finals of the cup, Drogheda would win two, lose two and draw three of their last seven league games. A slight dampener on what was a rather positive season for Drogheda United. Drogs finished the season in sixth place, the highest finishing position in the Premier Division for the Louth outfit since their second-place finish in 2012. While the chance for European football for next season faded just after the halfway mark of the season, it was still a superb 2025 for Drogheda.

2026 Plans

There is an air of optimism in Drogheda United for 2026. The fanbase have never been more unified at Sullivan & Lambe Park. Even though they have the lowest average attendance in the Premier division, their fans are the loudest every week and are one of the most passionate fanbases in the country.

While key players in Drogheda’s success this year, Darragh Markey and Luke Heeney, has announced that they will leave the club, other key players such as Mark Doyle, Shane Farrell, Ryan Brennan, Conor Kane, Andrew Quinn, James Bolger, Thomas Oluwa, Owen Lambe, Kieran Cruise and Conor Keeley all have signed up for 2026 with Drogs.

To add to the hype for next season, Drogs recently announced the signing of midfielder Brandon Kavanagh on a two-year contract from St Pat’s. The future looks bright for Drogs as they build of what was a solid 2025