CONOR KEELEY jumped at the chance to return to Drogheda United — because manager Kevin Doherty always delivers.
Keeley is in the squad as the Premier Division leaders face Shamrock Rovers at home tonight.
The defender went back to Drogheda to be reunited with Doherty, whom he has known since he was nine years old.
The Drogs chief joined Liverpool from Home Farm Everton in 1998 although the Dubliner never played for the Reds’ first team during his three-year spell.
And Keeley, 27, told SunSport he was well aware of his manager’s connection with the English giants.
He said: “He used to be my postman around Dunboyne.
“I think he saw a Liverpool sticker on the car — my family were all big Liverpool fans — and he said something to my mam about playing for them.
“Then he gave me my debut at Shelbourne when I was 17.
“He didn’t sign me for Shels — I was there from Under-13s — but he used to come and watch our Under-19s which also had Jack Brady, Dylan Grimes and Dayle Rooney.
“I knew of him and me mam and dad said, ‘Yeah, he used to be the postman’.
“I’ve known him a long time and he’s done so much for me.”
Keeley left Shelbourne shortly after Doherty in 2017, though the pair were reunited at Drogs in 2023 before the defender left for full-time football at St Pat’s last season.
He was a regular under Jon Daly but returned to Drogheda after losing his place under Stephen Kenny.
Keeley said: “Kev actually tried to sign me back last summer but I was told I was still in the plans at St Pat’s.
“But when told I was free to leave before Christmas, I called Kev again.”
A lot of faces may be the same, but Keeley says standards at the club have improved in keeping with the switch to full-time football.
He has also rejoined a team buoyed by last year’s FAI Cup triumph.
NOTABLE DIFFERENCE
After five league games, the Co Louth side are unbeaten, have conceded just one goal and top the table.
Keeley said: “I didn’t mind people tipping us to be near the bottom.
“You look at budgets and it makes sense. But when you’re in there every day you can see the quality that is training, you know it’s not going to be like that with the standards and being full-time.
“It’s only five games, we know that. But so far, I can see a difference.
“We might have played into the hands of a Shelbourne or Bohemians and lost, whereas now we have a game plan for everything and we’re getting results.
“It breeds confidence, but it’s early days. You just have to keep doing it each week.”
