McFadden: ‘The more game time those young lads get in the league the better’

Gary McFadden turned in a vintage performance in the middle of the field for Glenswilly in Saturday’s 2-6 to 1-7 All-County Football League Division 1 win over Gaoth Dobhair.

It was a case of rolling back the years for McFadden, who lined out in the middle of the park in what was a very young Glenswilly side.

The side managed by Gary McDaid have five points from three outings this term, whilst handing senior debuts to Eoghan Scott, Dylan McAteer, Aiden Friel, Mikey Toner and Oran Canning, with Oisin McGrenra coming in to play in goal having appeared out the field last season.

“We had a number of debutants out there,” McFadden said. “We have Michael Murphy and a few others to come back. It is good to win when you are missing a few regulars. It is good to build confidence the more game time those young lads get in the league the better. It will stand to them later on in the year.”

Glenswilly played with a strong win in their backs in the first half and led by two points, 1-4 to 1-2 and went on to see it out in the second half.

“I thought at half-time we hadn’t scored enough playing with the wind,” McFadden said. “It was a strong breeze and they have a number of accurate kickers that would punish us in the second half. In another year we might sit in and try and defend the lead but the young lads have legs and are able to run the ball.

“So we pressed high up. Young Oisin McGrenra drove up the field a few times to create a plus one and created a few openings at a time when we were struggling to open them up. We held out and really it was a game that could have gone anyway. Gaoth Dobhair could have easily sneaked as well.

“The good thing about the win for us apart from league points, in the last few years we would have probably lost a tight game like that. And that is all down to the young lads that have come into the team. They have as well as great pace they also have great belief.”

Glenswilly will take that belief in the road to O’Donnell Park on Sunday, where they take on neighbours St Eunan’s.