Drogheda United manager Tim Clancy was full of praise for his side’s character after they came from two goals down to earn a point at home to Galway United. A first-half brace from Eoin McCormack left the Drogs with a mountain to climb and despite s
Drogheda United manager Tim Clancy was full of praise for his side’s character after they came from two goals down to earn a point at home to Galway United.
A first-half brace from Eoin McCormack left the Drogs with a mountain to climb and despite substitute Colm Deasy’s dismissal, goals from Mark Doyle and Luke Gallagher earned the Boynesiders a deserved share of the spoils according to the Trim native.
“Things couldn’t have gone better for us in the first two games, we were 5-0 up after a half an hour in Wexford, and everyone was singing our praises,” Clancy explained post-match. "Tonight was a completely different challenge as we didn’t start the game well at all.
“We deserved to be two goals down at half-time but I asked the lads to show some character and it was a fantastic response to get a point. It gives us real momentum going into another big game Monday night.”
The Drogheda boss made two changes at half-time, bringing on Deasy and Luke Rossiter as well as switching to a 3-5-2 formation, and he believes that roll of the dice paid dividends in his side’s comeback.
“We switched off twice in quick succession and Galway took full advantage.
“Something had to change given the score and I thought we needed more energy in those areas. Switching to three at the back allowed us to press higher up the pitch and give Chris Lyons more support up front.
“Thankfully it worked and it gives us more options now moving forward."
With another marquee match to come on Monday against Finn Harps, Clancy believes that tonight’s performance proves that his side can be a match for anyone in the First Division.
“Galway are the promotion favourites and rightly so but down to 10-men second-half, I thought we looked like the full-time side.
"It was our first game against one of the favourites and this will give us a lot of confidence that we can compete with anyone especially considering we were without Sean Brennan and Lee Duffy.
“It might only be a point in the long run but it feels more like a win than a draw for us."
