Accusations that Drogheda United have bought their way to the league title are nothing but a "cheap shot", according to manager Paul Doolin.

Drogheda could be crowned league champions for the first time if they beat Cork City at United Park on Friday.

Indeed, with just one win required from their final four games Doolin's team are overwhelming favourites having sprinted ahead of the chasing pack in recent weeks.

The club has benefited from considerable investment in recent seasons and, as a result, have added some of the league's top players to their ranks.

But Doolin believes his team have not received due credit and has criticised those who suggest Drogheda are nothing more than a chequebook club.

"The title would be great for the players as there's been a lot of work gone into the club," he said.  "But I think it's easy and a cheap shot to say it's easy when you have a big budget.

"It isn't that easy when you're second from bottom and that's where this club was.  The people who have come into the club deserve great credit.

"It's easy when you're at the top to put money into a club, but its not when you're second from bottom. So if we do go on and win it I'll be delighted for them."

Drogheda's 2-0 win at Shamrock Rovers over the weekend ensured the club would have it all to play for this week in front of their own fans.

"We lost one game in our last 18 and people just wanted to talk so negative it was untrue," added Doolin.  "(Against Rovers) I thought we looked as good as we have done all season.

"The players deserve credit because there was a time there when we weren't playing great and that's ok because over the course of a season you're never going to play brilliant over 33 weeks.  The main thing is we just keep going."

Striker Eamon Zayed scored both those goals against Rovers and is relishing his time at the club having moved from Bray Wanderers last year.

At Bray he was more accustomed to scrapping it out at the wrong end of the table.  But keen to win silverware, he is making the most of this opportunity at United Park.

"The first thing I won was the Setanta Cup at the start of this season and that was a great feeling," he said. "Now we are in with a chance of winning the league and I want to win as many league titles with Drogheda as I can.  It would be lovely to do it at home and especially against Cork."