Fanad United celebrate second consecutive league crown with deserved win over Swilly

By the time the final whistle went, the football was almost deemed irrelevant as Fanad United partied to their second Premier Division league title in a row at a packed Traigh-a-Loch this afternoon with a 3-0 win over Swilly Rovers. 

There was no shortage of celebrations as the league was firmly set to stay another year at Fanad with the home team leading 3-0 at the break, with very few talking points and Storm Kathleen playing her part in the game. 

It wasn’t a game that the current champions were not going to take for granted. In fact, Swilly Rovers were one of the two teams to have beaten them earlier this season but with the chance to wrap up another league title on their home patch, Fanad United were not going to allow that opportunity to pass as they tried to be the first team since Kilmacrennan in 2010 to win back-to-back titles. 

The home side only needed one more point to put their stamp on the league for another season, but with two more games to play within a week, it was crucial for Arthur Lynch’s team to secure their deserved glory as quickly as possible.  

Fanad's impressive season was anchored with a formidable defense, conceding only 11 goals across their preceding 15 matches, complemented by a dynamic offense averaging slightly over two goals per game. 

The match commenced favorably for Fanad United as they secured an early goal within five minutes. Oisin Langan delivered an exceptional pass forward, narrowly eluding Edward O’Reilly's reach, yet fortuitously falling into the path of winger Eoin Logue, who skillfully found the net from the edge of the box with the player striking low off his right. 

Building on their momentum, Fanad doubled their lead on 15 minutes when Keelin McElwaine's cross was assisted by the swirling wind and found its way to Eddie O'Reilly, who, amidst defensive pressure, deftly maneuvered the ball into the net with a light touch off his boot to firmly establish Fanad's dominance. 

Despite an opportunity to extend their lead in the 25th minute with O'Reilly's header, narrowly missing the target, Fanad swiftly capitalised two minutes later, as McElwaine's cross once again found O'Reilly, who capitalized from close range off his left. 

Shane McNamee attempted to spark a comeback as he created several opportunities on the attack, but Fanad's defense thwarted their advances, maintaining a 3-0 lead at halftime. 

Swilly's Player-Manager, Laurence Toland, came on at halftime and nearly brought his side back in it when his free on the edge of the box was superbly saved by Mark McConigley who got a diving hand to it to tap the ball over the bar for a corner.  

Goalkeeper Barry Gallagher denied Keelin McElwaine's goal-bound attempt 10 minutes from the finish, ensuring Swilly remained within striking distance, but Fanad were unable to further their lead, ultimately securing a decisive 3-0 victory as the celebrations began in the north of the county. 

Fanad United: Mark McConigley; Keelan McElwaine, Declan McGarvey (Darragh O’Doherty, 68), Oisin Langan, James Gallagher; Patrick McGinley, Peter Carr (Dylan McGlone, 75), Patrick Carr (Odhran Grant, 70), Eoin Logue (Daibhid Lynch, 25); Edward O’Reilly (Patrick Moffett, 60), Darren McElwaine. 

Swilly Rovers: Barry Gallagher; Darragh McDaid, Brad Patterson, Ciaran Kelly, Tony Gallagher; Barry Mooney, Jordan McDaid (Mickey Kerr, 66), Marty McDaid, Kyle Black (Laurence Toland, HT); Shane McNamee, David Craig.  

Referee: Paddy Martin