FIT-AGAIN Darragh McNamara will be aiming to end Drogheda United's recent goal drought when the Boynesiders visit UCD in a crucial Airtricity League clash at Belfield Bowl on Friday (7.45pm). Amid the gloom surrounding the team's battle against relegation, one of the good news stories has been the return to action of the 20-yearold Kells native after a twoyear injury nightmare.

The former Meath Minors footballer played just seven minutes of first-team soccer two seasons ago and 14 minutes last year, but at last his career seems to be on an upward curve and he made his first two senior starts against Galway and Bohemians recently.

Despite the presence of two experienced strikers at the club in the shape of Glen Fitzpatrick and John Flood, it would be no surprise to see McNamara in the starting lineup come Friday night.

To say that he is delighted to be on Darius Kierans' teamsheet after a torrid time on the sidelines is a huge understatement.

'I had a miserable, miserable time with injuries over the last 18 months to two years,' McNamara told the Drogheda Independent this week.

'I had a bad groin injury and was out for 10 months with that, and I'd only got back when I snapped my hamstring off my pelvic bone in the last game of pre-season.

'For a while, when all I could do was work in the gym, it went through my mind, was it worth travelling up to Drogheda four times a week when all I could do was watch everyone else play?

'But all this time Darius stuck by me, always kept in contact with me, put me in touch with the right people and I owe a lot to him.

'The physio, Danny Miller, looked after me too and encouraged me to keep going, and the boys I play with have been fantastic as well.'

Naturally, after a couple of starts and substitute appearances, it has crossed McNamara's mind that he needs to start scoring goals, and he revealed that Kierans has set him a target for the rest of the season.

'He wants me to get six goals and a few assists before the end of the season and there's nine or 10 games left, so he isn't asking too much.

'The goals will come. I was unlucky in Galway with the one-on-one and had a goal disallowed as well and it was one of those nights where they got two terrible penalties and nothing went right for us.

'But we can't start feeling sorry for ourselves. We're all working hard on our tactics in training and Darius has got a great spirit in the camp since Alan Mathews left. And Alan McNally and Michael Daly have been unbelievable in defence for us.

'It's not over yet because there's still a lot to play for, but if we're in the play-offs we'd be confident we can come through them.'

McNamara admits he's relishing the prospect of helping Drogheda in their battle against the drop, and has no doubts that his decision to turn his back on the GAA was the right one.

'I got a tingly feeling coming out to play Galway because there was a lot of people at it and I was saying to the lads I haven't been like that since I was 14 and it's absolutely great to be playing again.

'Soccer has always been my number one sport. I was put under a lot of pressure to play for Meath Minors when I was 18, and they lost in the semifinal of the All-Ireland that year.

'But I was captain of the Drogheda United Under-17s the season they won the treble, and missed the two cup finals and the league decider because I got injured playing Gaelic. It got to the point where I had to make a choice.

'I owed it to Darius and the lads not to be messing around and turning up for some games and not others.

'I'm happy with the decision I made and hopefully I can start to pay them back now.'

- Marcus CAVAROLI