Fanad United crowned Premier Division champions following victory over Castlefin

Fanad United lifted the 2022/23 Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division trophy after a narrow win over Castlefin Celtic at Triagh-a-loch. 

Fanad United 1 Castlefin Celtic 0

Their first Donegal League title in 39 years, Oisin Langan's first-half goal was enough to bag the vital three points needed to ensure they finish at the summit.

Members of the Ulster Senior League since its inception, Fanad United returned to Junior League status a couple of years ago and with Division One medals in the pockets from last season, they can now add a Premier Division one to their mantlepieces. 

This game had an impact on both ends of the table. With one team going for glory, the other were fighting for their status as a top flight team.

The first 20 minutes was something of a midfield battle as Edward O'Reilly managed the first attempt on target with a speculative overhead kick from 25 yards. 

Tiernan Gallagher was impeded as the forward tried his luck but Brian Dooher was in the right place to sweep away the attempt. 

Ten minutes later, Fanad broke the deadlock via a cross after an initial effort had been cleared away.

Sean Carr had his attempt headed off the line by an alert Mark Lafferty as Castlefin cleared their lines. Fanad came forward with another attack and Oisin Langan whipped the ball in from the right and his cross deceived Gallagher and nestled into the top left corner.

Mark McConigley only had a couple of set-pieces to deal with early on but in the final moments of the first-half, Castlefin put some real pressure on the netminder. 

Set-pieces were the cause of the late moments of concern for McConigley as JP Malley went close with a well hit free kick that Seamus Friel headed clear. Another moment that nearly resulted in an equaliser came courtesy of a corner from Emmet White which looked to be cruising straight towards goal only for the gloves of the goalkeeper to punch it away.

Fanad held that narrow lead going into the interval. Just five minutes into the second-half, the ball was in the net again for Fanad after a brilliant solo run from Patrick Carr was finished off by O'Reilly but the offside call cut the celebrations short.

Carr went pretty close to doubling the lead on two separate occasions not long after as Gallagher was called upon to tip both headers over the bar.

The second-half was a bit more open than the first and just beyond the hour, Castlefin had two attempts in quick succession that were close to finding the net. 

JP Malley did find the net with a strike but unfortunately for him it was the side netting after a slight deflection while Mark Lafferty had his header blocked by a host of bodies from a corner a few seconds later.

Heading into the final quarter of an hour, both sides had appeals for a spot kick within about a minute of one another. 

JP Malley was caught in the air by McConigley while O'Reilly was tripped at the other end by O'Hagan but both appeals were waved away.

With just under five minutes to go in the game, Fanad had their best opportunity to wrap up the three points. Another solo run down the right from 

Patrick Carr ended with a low cross into the area and Martin McElhinney was ready and waiting to finish but a spectacular block on the line from Brian Dooher kept the score at 1-0.

Castlefin threw the kitchen sink at Fanad during stoppage time in a bid to boost their own chances in the league standings but Fanad's defence pulled them through to win their first Donegal League Title since 1983/84.

Fanad United: Mark McConigley; Oisin Langan, Declan McGarvey, Seamus Friel, James Gallagher; Sean Carr, Keelin McElwaine, Patrick Carr, Eoin Logue (Martin McElhinney, 81); Edward O'Reilly, Patrick McGinley.

Castlefin Celtic: Tiernan Gallagher; Brian Dooher, Stephen Roulston(Cathal Kennedy 88), Emmet White, Aaron O'Hagan; Mark Lafferty, Jordan Duffy, Eoghan Kennedy, JP Malley; Ronan Tourish (Reece Gallagher, 71), Dean Kelly (Ralh Hamdi, 88).

Referee: Dessie McLaughlin