'Our aim as a club is to go for the league again next season' - O'Reilly

If the past week has taught Edward O’Reilly anything it’s that sport can be a funny sort of business.  

Within a week you can go from the highest of the highs to the lowest of the lows . . . or in his case it’s vice versa.  

He was making his way back from Athlone to the top of the county last Easter Sunday following his Oscar Tarynor side’s 3-2 loss to the Waterford District League in the semi-final with his team failing to get over the final barrier and hope to be the first Donegal side to win the Oscar Traynor cup since 1983. 

There was perhaps a sense of what could’ve been, but being only 23, it might be a bit early to be looking in the rearview mirror when there’s so much success ahead of him. 

“For me and the other lads on the Oscar Traynor team, we were disappointed last week that we couldn’t get over the line and reach the final, but after winning today that’s now forgotten, it’s great that I can end the season with some silverware, so I’m a happy man,” O’Reilly said. 

“I’m absolutely delighted with the result and of course winning the league, a lot of hard work went into winning one title never mind two, so yeah, it’s hard to put into words right now, but really, I couldn’t be happier.” 

Many have spoken of O’Reilly’s attributes, but the one that has earned him the most attention is his toughness, and ability to carry his side when the going gets tough. 

And while Fanad United at no stage struggled during their league encounter this afternoon with Swilly Rovers which clinched them back-to-back Premier Division titles with a 3-0 win, it was a brace from O’Reilly early doors that gave his side the cushion they needed. 

“I was happy that I was able to contribute to the game in whatever way I did, it was obviously nice to get the two goals, the boys were giving me good service with the supply of ball sent into me. I probably could’ve had another one as well in the second half, but we won’t worry about that.” 

With three games to spare before today’s encounter, Fanad only needed one point to win the league for the second season on the bounce, an achievement not accomplished since Kilmacrennan did it back in 2010, but the current league holders were only looking for one thing against Swilly and that was a victory. 

“It was nice to take the lead early on to avoid any panic in the game, we went in at half-time and the whole message was about not conceding any goals and just seeing the match out and thankfully we did that without really ever taking our foot off the gas.” 

Following his side’s league win last year, O’Reilly opted for the J1 experience to Chicago, but in terms of his down time away from football this summer, he hasn’t looked that far ahead. 

“I think it’ll be a late one tonight, I don’t really know what’ll I’ll do in terms of sport after that, I’m not looking too far ahead into the future,” he joked.  

“I might get back into the golf if I can. Unfortunately, the legs are a bit sore after a long season with Fanad, but when I come around, I hope to get back into the GAA.” 

With Fanad United on the cusp of a wave after hard years in the Ulster Senior League, O’Reilly is hoping to enjoy the ride of success as long as he can, with him acknowledging that the journey to success doesn’t stop at two in-a-row. 

“The first couple of years that I was here as a player, the club was in the Ulster Senior League and things weren’t really going well for us, mainly because we had a very young squad.  

“To be honest in those years since, we haven’t lost an awful lot of boys out of that squad, we just kept developing and improving as a team all the time with a lot more bodies at training. 

“I think if we had this current team in the Ulster Senior League now, I actually believe we would really give it a go. But our aim now is to enjoy tonight and go at it again next season because the league is going to be a lot more competitive, but our ambition is going to be the same and we hope to have the same outcome and be successful.”