Fanad United target another memorable FAI Junior Cup run

Fanad United host Buncrana Hearts in the FAI Junior Cup this weekend as they look to take another step towards the National phase of the competition.

It was a competition in which they went far in last year, reaching the quarter-finals before losing out to eventual 2025 winners Fairview Rangers 3-2 at Traigh-A-Loch, which saw them compete in the FAI Cup for the past two years.

Last season didn’t go as well in the Junior Cup, losing out in the Ulster section to Cockhill Celtic, who also went far, but getting out of the regional area would be a big plus.

But they take on the Inishowen men who have won all eight league games so far this season, so midfielder Darren McElwaine is expecting a tough battle, but they are buoyed by a couple of good results in recent weeks in the league.

“The league is obviously the main priority, but getting a cup run is always nice,” McElwaine said on Sunday after a 5-0 home win over Keadue Rovers.

“Last year was brilliant, and we got to the quarter-final and pushed Fairview, who went on to win it. We lost to a 92nd-minute winner, so it shows we can challenge those teams, but hopefully we can do similar again this year.

“Buncrana are obviously going very well in their league, but we’re at home and we have the quality, so who knows.”

Fanad have won four of their five games in the league so far, losing out to current league leaders St Catherine’s, who have played a game more.

But they have won their last four games, scoring 18 goals in the process, with the 5-0 mauling of second place Keadue catching the eye on Sunday at Traigh-A-Loch.

Keadue started the better in the game, but a 20th-minute opener from Eddie O’Reilly set the tone and they continued to grow from there.

“We know what quality Keadue have, but we said if we could implement our game on them and start with a high intensity, then we wouldn’t be far away, especially on home turf because we don’t want to drop any points here.

“But we didn’t start well, it was the same last week against Letterkenny Rovers. In the first ten minutes, we were very sloppy, but once we got the first goal, we took over and it was the same again there today.

“We put emphasis on starting well and it didn’t happen, so we will have to address that, but once we got that first goal we settled down and played most of the football after that.”

McElwaine had a big say on the game, playing a brilliant defence-splitting pass into Peter Carr, who squared for O’Reilly for the opener.

He also swung in the corner for Liam McGrenaghan’s goal to make it 2-0, and delivered the ball on a plate for Ronan Gallagher’s second.

“We always say that we have the players there that can play quality football and it’s about getting the ball down and playing and we did that.

“Peter made a good run in behind, and then Eddie is always going to be there or thereabouts and Peter put a good ball across.”

Paddy Carr, James Gallagher and Alex Cullen were all missing on Sunday, who have been regular starters for the side, and Caolan McElwaine was forced off early in the second half with injury.

Cullen is expected to return imminently, while Carr is on the road to recovery, but James Gallagher is expected to be out until the New Year with a new injury.

But that didn’t impact their depth, with Ronan Gallagher scoring a hat-trick in his 30-minute cameo, while Charlie McAteer, Eoin Logue, Oisin Langan and Adam Carr also made an impact from the bench.

“It shows the quality we have. Ronan is a starter all the time, but he’s going away in two weeks' time, so we want to try other things.

“But when you have that kind of quality coming off the bench, Charlie came on and did really well, then ‘Logie’, Oisin Langan, Adam Carr coming on, they could probably start for any other team in the league, which just shows the depth we have there and it’s about keeping everyone happy and moving up the table.

“We had the three boys all missing today, and we can only name 18. If you’re not in the 18, you’re very unlucky, but we have boys there with quality that mightn’t make it, but it’ll change through the season. Boys at training are chomping at the bit all the time and training has been brilliant because if you aren’t at it, you’ll not be in the team.

“Paddy is brilliant, and he was probably our best player last season, so he’s a big miss, but when you’ve boys like Daibhid (Lynch) coming in and doing the job, it’s brilliant to see.”

Elsewhere in the Donegal, Inishowen and Monaghan section of the FAI Junior Cup, Saturday League side Fintown Harps host near neighbours and newly promoted Premier Division side Cappry Rovers at Páirc Acla on Saturday.

Kildrum Tigers make the journey to face the sole remaining Monaghan side Blayney Rovers, while St Catherine’s host Aileach in Emerald Park.

There are two All-Inishowen ties as Illies Celtic host Glengad and Cockhill Youths take on Carndonagh. All games are scheduled for 1.30pm kick-offs, with all but the Fintown and Cappry game taking place on Sunday.

The six victors from those games will then meet, with three teams advancing to the National stage of the competition.