There was a victory for the men from the kingdom in a very hard-fought game at Swilly Park on Sunday afternoon, as Fanad took a 1-0 victory against Swilly Rovers.
Swilly Rovers 0 Fanad United 1
Credit to the groundsmen for having the pitch playable after the torrential rain yesterday. Both teams contested a hard-fought battle on an excellent playing surface.
Martin Mc Elhinney was denied early on for Fanad when his goal-bound effort was blocked. Caelon Kelly headed just wide on 40 minutes. The game was scoreless at the break.
James Mc Cahill hit the crossbar with a fine effort after being set up by Tony Mc Namee on 50 minutes. The game burst into life then as both teams began the search for a winner.
Swilly thought they had gone ahead when Shaun Crossan produced great work on the left and his cross was deflected off a Fanad defender as the inrushing Tony Mc Namee headed into the back of the net. The goal was hotly disputed by the home team but was deemed offside and was disallowed.
James Mc Cahill was sent off in 73 minutes for a high challenge on Fanad’s Caelon Kelly. The game swung from end to end as both teams sought a winner. The winner arrived on 92 minutes when Davitt Walsh released Ryan Mc Fadden and he knocked home the goal from six yards.
Referee: Packie Coll.
Swilly Rovers: Gareth Muldoon, Duncan Patterson, Shaun Crossan, Ciaran Toland, Dylan Hegarty, James Mc Cahill, David Fisher, Aaron Rogan, Kennedy Boache, Tony Mc Namee, Marty Mc Daid.
Subs: Ciaran Mc Hugh, Ryan Mc Daid, Brandon Wilkie, Matthew Mc Laughlin, Jordan Nugent(on for Aaron Rogan), Frank Mc Brearty & Brad Patterson.
Fanad United: Mark Anthony Mc Ginley, Conor Mc Nulty, Conor Blaney, Shaun Mc Elwaine, Oisin Langan, Caelon Kelly, Paddy Carr, Dean Mc Carry, Martin Mc Elhinney, Davitt Walsh, Edward O Reilly.
Subs: Marty Mc Ateer (used), Ryan Mc Fadden (used), Peter Curran (used), James Gallagher & Eoghan Jordan.
