Darragh Markey of Drogheda United has been named SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month for March.
Markey topped the nationwide poll to clinch the monthly award by a single point from Galway United’s Moses Dyer. Fellow Tribesman, Killian Brouder two points further back in third place.
Markey was instrumental in his team’s fine start to the season; one defeat in eight games, as they sit proudly top of the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division table.
“It’s up to ourselves to keep things going now; week on week, but we are in a bit of a purple patch at the moment” explained Markey.
“Our form has been good since we won the Cup at the end of last season but the confidence has been there all along as well”.
We have managed to retain a lot of the squad from last year and staying up in the top flight has helped as well,” said Markey.
“Our goal is to stay up and the more points we accumulate the better and we might have to re-evaluate our goals later in the year.”
Last year’s FAI Cup winners, Drogheda currently top the league of Ireland with St. Patrick’s Athletic and Galway United the early chasers. Drogheda face Derry City at the Brandywell this weekend.
Kevin Doherty a big influence
“The gaffer Kevin Doherty has been a huge influence on the club and on me as a player” explained Markey. “I think it’s fair to say, I am enjoying some of the best football of my career,” added the former Cherry Orchard and St Pat’s player joined Drogheda in 2021.
The 27 year-old from Lucan, won a Cup winners’ medal last season against Derry combines work with his football career.
Markey, won the monthly award last November; becoming the first Drogheda player to win the award since Freddie Draper in May, 2023. Markey is just the third Drogheda player in the last decade following Gary O’Neill’s success in March, 2014.
“I am still combining the football with the day job and I am lucky that my manager at the office is happy to keep me on and I suppose I have the best of both worlds now,” Markey added.
