WARREN DAVIS used to be an apprentice plumber — and now he is enjoying ensuring Drogheda United do not go down the drain.
Despite winning the FAI Cup in November, Kevin Doherty’s side were among the relegation favourites this season.
But, after five games, they are unbeaten and enjoy a two-point lead at the top of the Premier Division table.
That is in no small part down to Davis’ wonder goal, bent into the top corner from an angle after robbing Evan Caffrey of possession, which was enough to see off defending champions Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday.
It came four days after another 1-0 win in north Dublin, with United defeating Bohemians at Dalymount Park one week ago thanks to Thomas Oluwa’s winner.
Davis said: “Kevin has always talked about the high press. That’s what we do.
“The two centre-forwards have to work hard. And that was what I was intent on doing early on.
“He seemed to take a heavy touch. I pounced. I won the ball back.
“I saw Harry Wood try to press me and I took it past him, then bent it into the top corner.
“To be fair, I did something similar against St Pat’s and Chris Forrester cleared it off the line.
“Without doubt it is the best goal I have ever scored.
“Kev always jokes that I only score from tackles, where I have closed people down and the ball has ended up going into the net.
“I scored against St Pat’s, and Dundalk in the Jim Malone Cup.
“I have never scored a goal like that so to do it here at Tolka was unbelievable.
“The celebrations were mad upstairs in the dressing room. This is the first time we have won here since I joined the club.
“And it is our first time winning back-to-back away games.
“As soon as we went 1-0 up, we showed we are hard to break down and score against.
“The one goal we did concede this year was a set-piece. We are solid.
“I don’t want to get too carried away but to see Drogheda United at the top of the league is mad because people were writing us off before the season started, saying we were relegation favourites and all that.
“To be two points clear at the top of the league is crazy and Kev was saying that we need to screenshot it. We’re flying, we are trying to prove people wrong.
“It is what Drogheda United is all about, proving people wrong.
“Coming in, people were writing us off talking about the game, how Shels were favourites and all that. But we have won two games now in Dublin within a week.”
https://twitter.com/LeagueofIreland/status/1898100638552133785
It was only his third goal in 52 league appearances, although 30 of them have been off the bench.
But his career to date has been one of perseverance having encountered plenty of setbacks along the way.
Davis — who turns 20 next month — said: “I was with Shamrock Rovers for ten years and got let go.
“I had two bad injuries. I was with Shels in DDSL and then with UCD and got let go by them as well.
“I was with Joey’s, and a few clubs.”
United took a chance on him and he said: “The first year at Drogheda I was an apprentice at plumbing but when I got a two-year contract, I gave up the apprenticeship and concentrated fully on the football.
“This is a dream. Honestly.”
SEIZURE SCARE
And he overcame a nasty incident last season against Galway United. He recalled: “I had a seizure against Galway.
“We had a chance. I missed it. Frantz Pierrot missed it.
“All I can remember is running back to the halfway line and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in an ambulance.
“It was crazy. I watched it back. A Galway player has headed my head, on the temple, so I conked out.
“I had a seizure. Since that day I have not had a seizure. The first few weeks after that, I was scared to head the ball.
“But I have had two check-ups since and luckily enough, everything is fine.”
And the departure of Pierrot and the retirement of Adam Foley gave him the chance to prove himself up top.
He said: “I went away on a camp, played against QPR and Crystal Palace and did well.
“I had a few sessions. Kevin liked me and I am here now and scoring against the champions of Ireland.”
