Raymond Foy's Strabane Athletic seal promotion to NIFL third tier

Strabane Athletic were promoted to the third tier of the Northern Irish Football League at the weekend with the help of a host of Donegal men.

The Melvin Park men defeated Antrim side Crewe United over two legs, taking a 3-1 win midweek before winning the second leg 1-0 on Saturday at home.

The side is managed by Castlefinn native and former Finn Harps player Raymond Foy, while Sean 'Wizzy' McGowan from Ballybofey is assistant manager.

Gary Merritt (Milford), Declan Sharkey (Newtowncunningham), Aaron O'Hagan (Castlefinn) and Simon McGlynn (Raphoe) all started in the second leg win, with McGlynn scoring the only goal of the game as he converted a penalty won by Merritt.

Ryan Galvin, Sean McCallion and Aaron McCready are also from the county and were on the bench in the win.

It was a disappointment in the promotion play-off last season for Foy's side, losing out to Oxford Sunnyside, but they were well in control of the two-legged tie this year, taking a 3-1 win in the away leg through an own-goal and a brace from McGlynn, his first to make it 2-0 before he headed home in added time to seal the two goal win.

The Tyrone side will be in the same division as fellow county side Dergview next season.

Strabane Athletic: Tom McDermott; Luke McGeehan, Liam McMenamin, Aaron O'Hagan, Dean Curran; Conal Crawford, Niall McGinley, Blaine Burns, Declan Sharkey; Gary Merritt, Simon McGlynn.

Subs: Ryan Galvin, Sean McCalllion, Oran McShane, Aodhan Doherty, Dan Doran, Aaron McCready, Aaron McGurk.