Keegan reaps reward for hard work

National League Premier Division previewsPaul Keegan's contribution to Drogheda United's strong start to the season was recognised yesterday when he was named as the Eircom/Soccer Writers' Association Player of the Month for March.

The 21-year-old Dubliner, who joined United midway through last year's campaign, has been a key figure for the club in recent weeks, turning in a succession of impressive performances in central midfield from where he scored three goals over the course of the month.

"I've worked hard during the close season and I'm fitter now than I was at any stage last year so that's obviously helped," says the former Leeds United player. "But the whole team has been playing well over the last few weeks and the fact that I've been playing alongside Stephen Bradley or Damien Lynch has meant there's been more of an opportunity for me to get forward than there was last year."

United face a tough few days as they look to maintain their recent momentum with a trip to St Patrick's Athletic this evening followed by a Setanta Cup semi-final at Windsor Park on Tuesday night. "Pats have signed some good players and have started fairly well themselves so it will be tough but if we keep playing the way we have been then we'd certainly feel we can go there and get a result.

"Tuesday will be difficult as well but the big pitch up there will suit us, probably more than being at home would have, because Fabio (Declan O'Brien) and Shane Barrett have the speed to go past players which hopefully they'll do against Linfield."

Tonight's opponents, St Patrick's Athletic, will be missing a couple of players as they take on the league leaders with Stephen Caffrey expected to be laid up for a couple of weeks with a calf problem and Stephen Brennan ruled out by a bout of the vomiting bug.

"I have a few options but obviously you'd prefer to have everyone for a game like this because they've been very good so far, winning games with no messing around and we badly want to get something out of the match," says St Patrick's manager John McDonnell.

At the other end of the table, Waterford United boss Mike Kerley also has a couple of problems as he prepares his players to face Shelbourne. Chris Deans (thigh) and Paul Ometeso (calf) are reckoned to be serious doubts while John Hayes and Kenny Browne will both be missing because of family bereavements.

Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon may opt to bring Owen Heary and Colin Hawkins back into his side after deciding to start without them in midweek against Derry City. The Dubliners scored 11 goals on the way to three league wins over Waterford last season and with just three points to show for their three league outings to date this season, they could do with maintaining the strong run of results against Kerley's side.

Bohemians will give late fitness tests to Fergal Harkin and Des Byrne ahead of their game at the Brandywell where they will be looking to build on last week's first win of the season while Dublin City are still without Mark Rooney, Ben Whelehan, Paul Crowley and Ger McCarthy for the visit of Sligo Rovers to Dalymount Park.

Meanwhile, the champions Cork City must wait to see if Alan Bennett and George O'Callaghan are sufficiently over recent knocks to start tonight's game against Longford Town. "With Monday's Setanta Cup game against Shelbourne looming so large I won't be taking any chances with the lads because if I rush them now it could mean them missing a few games but I'm still hoping that one or even both of them might make it," says manager Damien Richardson.

"If not then things aren't too bad because Killian Lorden has done exceptionally well in the last couple of games while Colin O'Brien and Joe Gamble played together in the centre of midfield last week when we would have had the three points but for the UCD goalkeeper having an outstanding game."