'You'll probably see the best of Darragh Markey at Derry City' - predicts Tiernan Lynch

Lynch set Michael Duffy a similar challenge ahead of the 2025 campaign and the winger delivered in spades as he finished as the club's top goalscorer with 13 goals in all competitions and on double figures in assists.

Duffy hit the type of form which earned him a place in the PFAI Team of the Year and a nomination for the PFAI Player of the Year and Lynch believes Markey, who was a key player in Drogheda's FAI Cup win over Derry in 2024, will also thrive in a team he wants to play 'on the frontfoot'.

"I hope it excites the fans," said Lynch. "We want to be a team that plays on the frontfoot. We want to excite the fans because that's what it's all about. You look at our last home game [against Shamrock Rovers] and the way the fans got behind us for the way that we played - Darragh definitely fits that bill.

"I think Darragh - and this is not to be disrespectful in any way - Drogheda play the way Drogheda play and they're very, very good at it and great credit to them for it but I think you'll probably see the best of Darragh now," he predicted.

"The way we want to play will probably suit his game. He's a lad who comes alive in the final third. He's good in possession; he runs beyond. He's technically very, very good. The big thing now is we want to add to his game. We want to add assists to his game. We want to add goals to his game and we will do everything in our power to help and support him and give him all the guidance in order to do that. Hopefully he will come and absolutely thrive."

Lynch hopes any further transfer activity is as 'seamless' as Markey's move from Drogheda claiming the player's desire to improve and his ambition to win silverware were attractive attributes.

"We've been obviously talking now for the past few weeks and again, it was a little bit of a no-brainer from his end. He sees the ambition of the club. He sees what we want to do and where we want to go. He definitely wants to be a part of that.

"He wanted to be part of this Derry team. He liked how we played. We talked about how we train and how we can make him a better player. So it was a really easy one and he's a kid we think we can get so much more out of. As I said, I think there's so much more ahead of Darragh. Having people like Michael Duffy and Gavin Whyte around you will bring so much more out of him.

"It's been seamless and hopefully the rest are like this going forward. I think he's just now in the situation where he's excited to get going."