He's only 33 in Drog years

VETERAN RYAN EMBRACES TURNING PRO LATE

- PAUL O'HEHIR

RYAN BRENNAN was trying to stay cool on a sweltering hot beach in Thailand over the winter as he worked out the mechanics of going full-time with Drogheda United.

It's not a decision that many 33-year-olds in the League of Ireland get to make at that stage of their career, so he appreciated the fortunate position he was in.

Brennan was full-time during his spells with Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic but has been part-time since rejoining his hometown club in 2022.

He worked in sales for a wholesale company and his partner is a manager for an NGO in Kells but Brennan put his own day job on hold when they had a baby.

So when Drogheda United this season joined the rest of the Premier Division as a full-time operation, Brennan had a big decision to make.

Not that he pondered it for too long and particularly so having captained his local team to FAI Cup final glory in November to secure a return to European football.