Gary focused on FAI Cup final victory

The last time Drogheda Utd won the FAI Cup was in 2005, it was also the first, and Bohermeen man Gary Rogers was a member of the panel for that 2-0 victory over Cork City.

Next Sunday Gary will be guarding the goalposts for last year’s League champions Sligo Rovers when they tackle the Boynesiders in the big game at the Aviva Stadium.

.“I’m looking forward to the game and it’s great for me personally as I have agreed another season with Sligo Rovers, so I’m sorted out and that’s very important,” he told the Meath Chronicle this week.

“Looking back to my time with Drogheda, that 2005 final was my fifth season with the club and it was the only one out of 14 seasons in the League of Ireland so far that I wasn’t the first choice goalkeeper. 

“I know a lot of the Drogheda players, but after 14 years in the League of Ireland you get to know most of the players anyway, it’s a small league and there can be up to 50 games in a season.

“I played for Drogheda in the First Division with Fabio (Declan O’Brien) back in 2001, we’re good mates and we would always keep in touch no matter what club we would be playing for,” added the former Meath GAA player who helped his local GAA club, St Ultan’s, to an IFC title in 2008.

 “If it comes to penalties, I’ll just have to save five to be better that Ciaran Kelly was in 2010, but in a penalty shoot-out there is no pressure on the goalkeeper,” said Rogers as he suggested that the current playing season is too condensed.

 

“End of season is a horrible place for players in the League of Ireland, most times you just don’t know whether you are going to be with the same club again next season.

 “I’d like to see a change in the structure of the season, it could be extended a little bit more to avoid the situation where you can have up to 12 games in a month.

 “That’s one of the things I think could be changed for the better, there’s no problem in playing up to 50 games, but the schedule is crammed into a little over 30 weeks with the two-week mid season break.”

 Looking ahead to Sunday’s game against one of his former clubs, the Bohermeen man is pleased with his form going into the Aviva showdown.

 “I’ve kept 27 clean sheets this season, that’s my best so far, but I’ll be aiming to add to that next Sunday.

 “For Sunday, midfield will be crucial and if we have Joseph (Ndo) there and playing at his best, then we will be hard to beat.

“We like to play football and Joseph makes us tick, but he missed the last two games, last Friday night in Tallaght and the previous week when we beat Drogheda 3-1.

“Joseph is 37 now and he is a marvellous player, he’s probably the best player ever to play in our league, certainly the best foreign player.

“It has the makings of a good game and I know there are a lot of people from Meath going, many of them will be Drogheda supporters, but everyone should take the opportunity to go even if it’s only to get the chance to see a great player like Joseph Ndo,” he added.

Conall Collier