Glenswilly manager Bonner: 'Special' performance for Charlie Mandy McFadden

Glenswilly manager Padraig Bonner said the performance his players put on in the week they lost a club legend in Charlie Mandy McFadden was “special”.

After suffering relegation from Division 1 of the All-County Football League, few gave Glenswilly much hope in their Donegal SFC opener against Naomh Conaill on Sunday. However, in a dramatic encounter, Bonner’s side claimed a share of the spoils in a 2-8 to 1-11 draw.

“It has been a difficult week for the club,” Bonner said. “We lost a club legend in Charlie Mandy McFadden. Charlie was close to all the boys in that team. He was ever present at training and games and for them to go out there and to put on that performance against Glenties who are one of the top two or top three in the county was special.

“We were coming off the back of relegation which we were very disappointed about and we needed a performance. I’m so proud that the lads went out and put in the performance they did. 

“Glenties got their noses in front after they scored the goal in the second half and we still managed to find something in the reserves to claw it back. The true grit and determination of Glenswilly is what we keep reminding ourselves of. We are a small club taking from small resources but when they put on that jersey they know what it is about and they give everything for it.” 

Glenswilly played a defensive game and enjoyed great success with it in the not too distant past. But that was well and truly abandoned on Sunday as they set their stall out from the off and really went on the front foot.

And the quick early ball into Michael Murphy paid rich dividends as they struck for a goal and two points in the opening three minutes.  

“If you have been watching us for the last three years we have been trying to get away from the defensive setup that was successful for us,” Bonner added. “We have been trying to be attack minded. Yeah we worked on it and when you have the big man (Michael Murphy) on the edge of the square he is going to cause havoc no matter who they put on him.

“Michael  performed and drove the team forward but we had performances all over the field. 

“I thought young Jake Kelly, when we moved onto John O’Malley - who did a lot of damage in the first half - did a great job on him in the second half.”

Naomh Conaill recovered from falling behind early to go in level at 1-5 to 0-8 at half-time. The fact that the early advantage had been wiped out did not bother the Glenswilly boss. 

Michael Murphy on song as Glenswilly give Naomh Conaill a considerable scare

The Donegal captain kicked 1-3 as Naomh Conaill came from five points down to lead in a fantastic Donegal SFC encounter before Glenswilly earned a share of the spoils late on

“Games have ebbs and flows and as long as you keep the scoreboard ticking over when you are having your purple patch and try and keep them to a minimum when it is their purple patch you are happy,” he said.

“We wanted to be in the game at all the breaks, like the water breaks that were introduced for today, and at half-time. I know Glenties did pull away a bit when they scored the goal at the start of the second half but the character and spirit in this team is unbelievable and they just kept plugging away. 

“It was a long battle and I thought the referee (Martin Coll) was excellent today. He let the game flow. It was  a proper championship game. It is the first round of the championship, sometimes they can be damp squibs. But that game out there today had the feel of a proper championship game.”

Like Glenswilly’s first goal, a long high delivery into the Naomh Conaill goalmouth their second goal was an almost carbon copy with Murphy rising high to break the ball down into the path of Shane McDevitt, who was pulled down for a penalty, which Murphy then tucked away. Gary ‘Copper’ McFadden’s point ended up clinching the draw.

“If you have something that works, keep using it. Michael is just a mountain man who loves the ball in the air,” Bonner added. “He causes havoc. Shane McDevitt showed well for the ball all day. It was tough there at times with two just up front and one at times. And Michael put away the penalty well. And Copper did well at the end to level it. We’ll take the point.”