Drogheda Goalie Luke Dennison On The Brutally ‘Tough’ Decision That Saved His Career After Sitting On Bench

The Irish-American goalkeeper joined Weavers Park last month and has participated in the last five matches as the team advances to the quarterfinals of the FAI Cup and fights for survival.

Tonight, Kevin Doherty’s team can escape the bottom of the standings until at least Sunday if they secure a win against Sligo Rovers at home.

The 28-year-old is enjoying being back on the pitch after spending 18 months at Bohemians, where he observed plenty of matches but didn’t play much under Declan Devine and Alan Reynolds.

He shared, “I spent my time on the bench or in the stands at Bohs, and a few teams, including Drogheda, showed interest in me. It took me about a week to make a decision, but I was in daily contact with Kev.”

“I had a strong feeling about the place and what we could achieve.”

Dennison, originally from California, acknowledged that he needed to leave Bohemians to get more playing time, especially with James Talbot ahead of him and later the new signing Kacper Chorazka.

He told SunSport: “When I signed last year, I knew JT was there and understood the kind of person and player he is within the Bohs setup, so I knew it would be challenging to get into the team. I was hoping to get a chance as the season progressed, especially since I was training really well.”

“But I fractured my hand during the season, which put me behind.”

He came back before the season ended, and when Talbot stepped away from football earlier this year to focus on his mental health, Dennison participated in the pre-season training.

He added, “I was the only goalkeeper at the time. A few others joined during pre-season, but they didn’t meet the standard, so I ended up playing in all the pre-season matches.

“I expected to be the starter, but a week before the season began, they signed Kacper.

“He had been playing in Cyprus, so he came in ready to go. I got along well with Kacper; I really like him. In the end, Declan Devine chose to go with him as the starter.

“It was disappointing, but I stayed professional, kept my head down, supported Kacper, and remained prepared.”

“But when Dec left Bohs and Rennie took over, I had the impression that he wanted JT to be the main focus again.

“JT was making his comeback, and I found myself in the stands. So, I felt it was the right moment to move on.”

Dennison played only two matches for Bohs and secured a Leinster Senior Cup but quickly adapted to a more active role at Drogheda.

He said, “Transitioning from full-time football, I plan to stick with it for the rest of the year and see where it leads me.

“The level of play here is quite similar to that of Bohs; the main difference is the training schedule.

“Instead of starting at 9:30 am, I’m training at 4:30 pm.”

Drogheda have been in good form lately.

He’s won both FAI Cup matches and has one victory along with two draws in league play so far.

This means the Drogs are still fighting for survival.

However, Dennison emphasizes that it’s all about the team rather than individuals.

He added, “Every game is crucial.”

“We need the points because we don’t want to depend on Dundalk, Bohs, or St Pat’s.

“It’s important that we focus on our own performance.”