Tim Clancy toasts players after former Hibs defender leads Drogheda United to League of Ireland First Division title

Former Hibs defender Tim Clancy is celebrating after leading Drogheda United to the League of Ireland First Division title in only his third season as a manager.

Tim Clancy pictured during his spell with Hibs

Goals from James Brown and Luke Heeney earned a 2-0 victory over Cabinteely for the County Louth outfit as they sealed a fifth second-tier title win.

Speaking to the Irish Times after promotion was secured Clancy said: “They’ve had heartbreak in each of the last two years and a few weeks ago they thought they were out of it so the players deserve this now.

“It’s been a short season, but a long one too. The lads have been magnificent. I couldn’t put it all into words right now.”

Clancy, who turned out for the Easter Road side between 2012 and 2014 and also had spells in Scotland with Kilmarnock, Motherwell, and St Johnstone was handed his first role in management when he was appointed head coach at United Park in 2018, succeeding Pete Mahon at the helm.

He led the Drogs to the promotion play-offs in 2018 and 2019 but they were beaten by Finn Harps on both occasions – at the semi-final stage in 2018, and the final stage last year.

This term Drogheda won 12 of their 18 matches to secure the championship although Clancy’s former club Bray Wanderers ran them close, finishing just a point behind them in second.

Drogheda United will next season face the likes of Dundalk and St Patrick’s Athletic as well as Clancy’s former employers Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

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