Drogheda United Confirm Swoop For English Football League Duo

League of Ireland side Drogheda United have confirmed the capture of English Football League pair Hayden Cann and Oisin Gallagher on loan until July.

The Lincoln City duo excelled in the opening half of this season for Peterborough Sports in the National League North and will continue their development with the Drogs for the opening half of their season. They will return to England in July, ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Gallagher made his first start for the Imps in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy this season at Derby County and recently made his EFL debut at Blackpool. He has been capped at U19 level and was previously with Derry City.

Hayden Cann has been with Lincoln since the age of nine and has enjoyed loan spells with Gainsborough Trinity, Lincoln United, and Peterborough Sports. He made his debut in 2020 against Mansfield Town in the then-Papa John’s Trophy.

This is the third season that two Imps players have made temporary moves to Weavers Park, with Sean Roughan, Sam Long, Freddie Draper, and Elicha Ahui all having successful spells in Drogheda.

“This is obviously a well-trodden path for our young players with huge benefits in the past for them all from playing 20+ games for Drogheda in a really competitive league,” said Lincoln’s director of football Jez George

“Sean used it as a springboard to establish himself in our first team and Freddie earned a loan in Sky Bet League Two which then resulted in him being recalled and starting for us on Saturday, so the challenge, opportunity, and incentive is clear for Oisin and Hayden.

“We really value our relationship with Drogheda. Kevin and Daire have shown real belief in all of our young players and will help Oisin and Hayden to transition as they step up a level.”

Drogs, who saw Freddie Draper top the scoring charts during his spell in Ireland, feel the move will give them flexibility ahead of the new season.

“Oisin is someone I was aware of through Irish youth teams but became more aware of through Lincoln,” said boss Kevin Doherty

“He’s a strong midfielder, the type of player we’ve been keen to bring in. Hayden is a really dominant centre back, who excelled in his last loan spell.

“He can play in a back three or as one of two really comfortably. I wanted to be able to have some flexibility in the way we play.”

Drogs kick off the 2024 season on January 27th, with a visit to St Pats.

Site Opinion

Drogheda are owned by the same people as Walsall and have already benefitted from that link up with the sale and recapture of Evan Weir.

They’ve now added the two Lincoln players, a vein of talent that has been good for them in the past. Of the two, Oisin Gallagher is the more exciting – he’s earmarked for a big future with the Imps.

Cann is an example of what hard work can lead to – he’s excelled in all his loan spells so far, and this one could help push him further up the Imps’ pecking order.