Arthur Lynch: Fanad United players couldn’t have given any more  

Arthur Lynch admits he simply couldn’t have asked for any more from his players as they celebrated title success last Sunday. 

Fanad United were crowned champions of the Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division on home soil last weekend in what was an historic day for the club. 

Lynch's side lost just one game all season, away to Rathmullan Celtic, and it has put them in an enviable position at the top of the table.

Following their narrow victory over Castlefin Celtic, they've now put a sixth Donegal League top flight title on their shelves, a full 39 years after their last. This has added to an already impressive collection of silverware which also includes 14 Ulster Senior League crowns and two FAI Intermediate Cups.

This week, Lynch spoke of his delight in getting over the line and he was full of praise for the manner in which they went about their business. 

"It’s another trophy and we are just delighted to get it and to carry on the tradition that's here," he said. "I've been involved with this club for a long time and I'm over the moon to be a part of this. For all the players, backroom staff and the people that have been here, we know we had a couple of lean years but we all dug in.

"There are a lot of people I'd want to name but I don't want to leave anyone out. Past and present committee members, everyone really, I'm just delighted for them all.

"We really couldn't have asked for more. When things weren't going well, there was no animosity here, everyone was still fighting for the same goal.

"The league table doesn't lie. Over the course of the season, I was really happy with the performances, maybe you could question one or two but over the course of the year, we were at ourselves almost every single day we went out."

Their Castlefin encounter was hard fought throughout and it was only decided by a single goal, on the half hour, and Lynch noted that hard work has seen them pull through on so many occasions when points often looked lost.

"If you were coming from anywhere else to watch the game, some might have thought it was a dead rubber game, top versus second bottom. 

"But as you saw yourself,  that was as good a game as you'll find. "We've been in a battle all year for points and we have pulled away with late goals and, some might say, luck.

"But it's not luck, it's hard work. This bunch has real graft about them and they are not going to be easily beaten. They dug in when it counted because Castlefin really threw everything at us in those final ten, fifteen minutes and we answered all the questions."

Fanad’s last few campaigns in the USL probably won't be remembered too fondly . But Lynch feels the squad have got their reward now after some difficult moments. 

"A lot of these players have taken abuse in the past, back in the Ulster Senior League when we weren't going great," he explained. "A lot of them were young men, only 17 or 18 years old, still learning their trade.

"But they stuck it out. They are all still there, fighting tooth and nail and I couldn't say enough good about that bunch of players.

"No matter what happens, they will give you one hundred percent and I can't ask for any more than that”.