Three Brennans sign up to play for the Drogs in 2012
THREE of the renowned Brennan brothers will play for their home-town club in 2012, after Sean, Ryan and Gavin all signed for Drogheda United in the past few days.
It was no secret that manager Mick Cooke was seeking to retain Gavin from last season's squad, nor was it a surprise that he pursued the winger's two siblings who were signed by Cooke during his Monaghan United days and helped them secure promotion to the top flight last month.
Both Sean and Ryan scored regularly during the season, and the elder of the two was in the First Division Team of the Year and on the shortlist of three for First Division Player of the Year.
Tiarnan Mulvenna and Philip Hand have also re-signed for the Boynesiders, while Mulvenna is likely to be partnered in attack by big target man Peter Hynes after the 28-year-old completed his move from Limerick. Dundalkborn left-sided player Shane Grimes has also joined the Drogs after two seasons with Monaghan.
Also coming to Hunky Dorys Park is Rome-born 25-year-old goalkeeper Gabriel Sava, another member of Monaghan's promotion-winning team who previously played for Drogheda Town in the Leinster Senior League and was once on Lazio's books.
Asked about the arrival of former Under-19 international Ryan Brennan, who previously played for the Drogs under Alan Mathews, and his brother Sean, Cooke said: 'I know Ryan's been approached by other clubs, and to be quite honest I don't understand how Sean has never been approached.
'For the last couple of seasons he has been the most outstanding player in the First Division, and he is more than capable of stepping up to the Premier. His work ethic and professionalism are second to none.
'I managed Sean for two or three years at Monaghan and I feel maybe they feel I gave them a start, and the other attraction is that it's their home-town club, with less travelling to training and things like that.'
Reflecting on some of his other signings, Cooke added: 'I think Peter Hynes has underachieved in the past couple of seasons because he looked a very promising player when he was fulltime with Sporting Fingal.
'It took Tiarnan a while to adapt to the Premier after dropping down to non-league football for a while, but he is still only 22 and with a good pre-season I think he will be a lot better for it.
'And Shane Grimes was a great servant to Monaghan when I was there, very steady at fullback, and he can play at centrehalf as well.'
Cooke is already nearly halfway to completing his squad of 18 or 19 players, and he said he would also be interested in talking to the fourth and best-known of the Brennans - Bohemians ace Killian.
However, the eldest of the siblings has never hidden his desire to play across the water and might prefer to link up with his old boss Pat Fenlon, who is now manager of SPL club Hibernian.
- MARCUS CAVAROLI
