MARTY MCDAID is feeling optimistic for the future at Swilly Rovers for the first time in several months.
It has been a topsy-turvy campaign for the Ramelton club.
At the tail-end of last season, the club had voted to leave the Ulster Senior League to rejoin the junior ranks, but a U-turn followed.
Aaron Rogan had 39 days as manager before he was usurped and Gerry Crossan, who had good success with underage teams at Swilly Park, stepped into the breach.
Times have been tough and Swilly didn’t win a game in the 4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League until January. But a 3-2 win over Cockhill Celtic – a game that saw Cockhill’s first League defeat since July 2012, and a run of 72 matches – saw their rivals take note.
On Sunday, Swilly defeated Derry City Reserves 2-0 and Swilly Park feels somewhat satisfied again.
We need to keep pushing on,” says veteran McDaid, who scored the opening goal on Sunday.
“We have a good group here now. We’re not going out to keep the scoreline down. We’re going out to win games now.
“We want to have it that no-one leaves Swilly Park with three points. We want to get a good building ground for next season, get all the boys to stay about and get back on track again.
“It was probably hard enough for Gerry when he came in first.
“He asked some boys who were away to come back. It was probably like starting off again.
“We liked what he was doing. He has a good set-up and training is good.
“We want to keep improving over the second half of the season.”
Swilly welcome their old foes Letterkenny Rovers to Lennonside this weekend – and McDaid says his men are buoyed by Sunday’s win over Derry.
He says: “It was a good result. We have a lot of boys back and we’re playing decent football again. We had a good result up in Cockhill and the boys took a good boost from that.
“Every man is showing up in training and there is good morale there.
“It’s all down to the training. We’re all training hard. No-one is slacking off. It’s showing on the pitch – everyone is working hard for the 90 minutes.
“Derry didn’t create too much against us on Sunday. We had a lot of chances. It was a good old battle and we deserved the win.”
McDaid opened the scoring when his delicate chip flew beyond the Derry goalkeeper Mark McElhinney.
Just three days after he celebrated his 37th birthday, McDaid struck gold.
He says: “I had a wee bit of space. The man was closing me down so I had to take the shot on. The ‘keeper was a bit off his line and I was glad it went in. Some days I wouldn’t have been so lucky.”
Laurence Toland’s brilliant second goal copperfastened the win and Swilly were toasting a first home win of the season.
The recent return of Tony McNamee from Finn Harps has significantly aided Swilly’s cause. McDaid says: “Having Tony back has been a great boost. He’s got a cool head.
“He doesn’t waste ball and it’s good for the young lads coming through to have a man like that.”
The versatile McDaid is enjoying his game these days again, with hopes high that his team can finish the season on a positive note.
He says: “I’m still enjoying it. I don’t have too many years left at this level so I’ll enjoy it while I still can!”
RESULTS
4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League
Cockhill Celtic 2 Swilly Rovers 3
Derry City Reserves 0 Finn Harps Reserves 0
Letterkenny Rovers 3 Fanad United 1
FIXTURES
Sunday, January 15, 2017, 2pm
Finn Harps Reserves v Bonagee United
Letterkenny Rovers v Cockhill Celtic
| USL | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| Cockhill Celtic | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 9 | 18 | 19 |
| Letterkenny Rovers | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 13 |
| Fanad United | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 11 |
| Derry City Reserves | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 10 |
| Bonagee United | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 14 | -7 | 10 |
| Swilly Rovers | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 22 | -12 | 6 |
| Finn Harps Reserves | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 19 | -10 | 5 |
TOP GOALSCORERS (League goals only)
Cathal Farren (Derry City Reserves) 8
Darren McElwaine (Letterkenny Rovers) 6
Mark Moran (Cockhill Celtic) 6
Aaron McCready (Finn Harps Reserves) 4
Laurence Toland (Swilly Rovers) 4
Aidan McLaughlin (Bonagee United) 3
Jimmy Bradley (Cockhill Celtic) 3
Gerard McLaughlin (Cockhill Celtic) 3
William O’Connor (Cockhill Celtic) 3
Max Karner (Derry City Reserves) 3
Stephen Duffy (Derry City Reserves) 3
