THE INTERMEDIATE Cup always gets the pulses racing in Fanad and it’s that time of year again for Arthur Lynch’s men.
Fanad, winners of the Cup in 1988 and 1995, are rebuilding again under player-manager Lynch, who played in two semi-finals and several quarter-finals with the club.
On Sunday, Fanad host Bonagee United at Triagh-A-Locha in this season’s Intermediate Cup.
“The Intermediate Cup is massive,” Lynch said.
“If you have any ambition in intermediate football, this is the Cup you want to play in.
“Eamon McConigley came out at the start of the season and said that it was his ambition to win the Intermediate. There would be something wrong if an intermediate team manager didn’t have that ambition.
“I go into every competition looking to win it, or do as well as you can and be competitive.
“Our boys will all be pumped up to play in the Intermediate Cup, especially after Letterkenny Rovers really raised the profile of it last season by getting to the final.”
The game will be played on the side pitch at Triagh-A-Locha with the main pitch at the venue still a few weeks away from being ready.
“Hopefully we’ll have the lights hopefully fully functioning too and we’ll be ready to go again on the main pitch,” Lynch said.
“Patrick and the committee are doing trojan work on the developments at the club. It’s not ideal to have to play on the side pitch but we’re lucky to have it – some clubs wouldn’t have a first pitch as good as that one.”
The likes of Lynch, Marty McAteer and Kieran Gorman have played in the Cup with Fanad at the national stage, while those such as Davitt Walsh and Matthew Crossan come armed with senior experience.
Walsh is struggling with an injury picked up at the weekend’s Intermediate Interprovincials, but Lynch is hopeful that his men can get the job done.
He said: “The likes of Marty is an example to any young lad. Himself and ‘Gorby’ (Gorman) are great men to have on a team.
“We’re looking forward to Sunday, for sure. It’s a massive round in the competition because, if you win, you’ll be through to the open round and can get anyone.
“This is the round that can really raise the profile.”
Fanad have played only three games so far this season, losing 1-0 to Bonagee in the League Cup, suffering a narrow 1-0 loss to champions Cockhill in the League and a late John McGarvey goal rescued a recent 1-1 draw with Swilly.
Lynch said: “This season I have 18-20 reasonably strong players with me. John, for instance, came on against Swilly and took the game by the scruff of the neck. We have a lot of other good men in too.
“We want to move on and start to close the odd game out now. It’s hard to know how to assess our season so far because we haven’t got a clear run of games yet.
“Managing…it’s like keeping mice at a crossroads sometimes.
“That said, I knew what I was going into and knew where the club was at and what the state of play was.
“The expectations weren’t big – it was about getting the club up and running again, getting the interest and the respect back.
“We’re gradually doing that now. We have a lot of the better, local players back again and we’ve added a wee bit of quality, too.”
Fixtures
FAI Umbro Intermediate Cup, second round
Sunday, October 23, 1.30pm, extra time and penalties if required
Cockhill Celtic v Swilly Rovers Referee – Marty Quinn; assistants – Marty McGarrigle, Michael Connolly
Fanad United v Bonagee United Referee – Packie Coll; linesmen – Paul Duddy, Vincent McLoughlin
USL Top goalscorers (League goals only)
Max Karner (Derry City Reserves) 3
Cathal Farren (Derry City Reserves) 2
Aidan McLaughlin (Bonagee United) 2
Steve Okakpu-Emeka (Letterkenny Rovers) 2
Christy Connaghan (Letterkenny Rovers) 2
INTERPROS
THE USL selection just missed out on glory at last weekend’s FAI Intermediate Interprovincial Tournament in Cork.
After a 3-1 win over Leinster on Friday night, with Mark Moran, Paul McVeigh and Ryan Varma scoring, the USL team – managed by Bonagee United’s Peter Moran – defeated Connacht 2-0 on Saturday, thanks to a brace by Davitt Walsh.
However, the holders and hosts, Munster, defeated the USL 2-0 on Sunday to keep the silverware.
NOTES
ULSTER Senior League clubs are asked to forward weekly notes to new League PRO Chris McNulty at chrismcnulty86@gmail.com for circulation to the media and for inclusion on the Ulster Senior League website.
