Drogheda reaping rewards for 'hard work'

Almost relegated last season, Drogheda have been the surprise package of the 2012 campaign, as before tonight's round of games United were in joint second place with Shamrock Rovers and only three points off the top.

In fact, Drogheda could even go top of the table tonight on goal difference, if leaders Sligo lose at home to St Pats and if Drogheda can rack up a few goals away to UCD.

And Cooke insists that there's no secret to Drogheda's success, just some hard work along the way. "We don't have any big stars in the squad, just a good group of lads who work hard for each other and want to do well for the club," Cooke says.

"A lot of the guys in my team were playing in the First Division last season but I knew they had the ability to play at a higher level and they have shown they can do it.

"It's not just the 11 on the field, it's the whole club that has got us this far. The chairman and his committee have worked their socks off to make this club work and they deserve a lot of credit for what we have done so far.

"It was all doom and gloom when I came to the club and the aim was to avoid relegation, but I knew the potential that was here, and the club have helped put that in place on the field," he added.