PAUL Friel doesn’t feel the need to stamp his authority after taking reins of the Fanad United dressing room as he says he has inherited a group that know all about hard work.
Friel has replaced Arthur Lynch, who was at the helm for 11 seasons.
Lynch helped to build the club back up after they left the USL and guided Fanad to two Premier Division titles.
Friel starred for the club himself during his playing days and knows what Fanad United is all about.
“The identity of this club over the last number of decades has always been based on a few foundations and one of them has been hard work.
“Eamonn McGonigley was a big man for that, and Ollie (Horgan) brought it through and Arthur stamped it through too.
“I have inherited a crowd of boys that work hard anyway, and that’s all they know.
“All I have to do is bring a bit of structure to it and we have had it over the last few years.
“A change can freshen things and the boys have embraced it.
“They’re loving their football at the minute. We have massive numbers in training and boys are fighting for places.
“We have boys coming off the bench and scoring lots of goals.
“We’re in a good place and we just have to keep working hard and see where it takes us.”
Fanad have played five games in the Premier Division this season and won four of them.
Their only slip came against league leaders St Catherine’s.
Friel’s charges showed what they are capable of last week as they hammered Keadue Rovers 5-0.
Eddie O’Reilly and Liam McGrenaghan hit the net in the first half before Ronan Gallagher came off the bench to score a hat-trick in the space of eight minutes.
Fanad gathered in a huddle after the match and have designs on pushing on in the coming weeks.
“We started a bit shaky and then we found our feet.
“We went in 2-0 up and I think we deserved that lead.
“We came back out for the second half and made a couple of changes, and big Ronan bagged a hat-trick.
“There wasn’t a breeze (in Traigh-a-Loch) and the boys were bang at it.
“We were strong in the tackle and winning the ball back and it’s onwards and upwards now.”
McGrenaghan has signed back for Fanad after a short stint with Kerrykeel ’71.
Mark McAteer and Peter Curran have also come in, and young Alex Cullen is on the books this term after playing with Derry City at underage level.
Fanad have a strong squad and that was demonstrated as good performers such as Gallagher, Eoin Logue and Oisin Langan were all on the bench against Keadue.
“We haven’t lost anybody from last year and we have added some real quality too.
“We do have injuries though. James Gallagher, our captain, is out for a number of weeks and it will be after Christmas before he is back.
“There are a few other injuries as well. We have a big squad and we have used it so far.”
With Letterkenny Rovers and Bonagee United focusing on the National League, the Premier Division race has a more open feel to it.
Fanad have the players to launch a real bid for the title but St Catherine’s and Kildrum Tigers in particular will also be pushing hard.
“We have a squad to challenge but nothing is won ever before Christmas.
“A lot of things can happen between now and then and we have a Junior Cup game against Buncrana which is a tough game and then we are away to Kildrum after that.
“These are tough games but that’s what you want.
“The Ulster Senior League has been disbanded and Rovers and Bonagee have headed on as well.
“We still have quality in this league regardless.
“A lot of our players could have gone and stepped up but they decided to stay here.
“That’s a credit to them that they wanted to stay and play for their local area.
“We have a squad of 26 or 27 players and 95% of those have come through the local Mulroy Academy.
“We are a local team and the boys that are outside of that like Eddie (O’Reilly) and (Oisin) Langan have been here longer than most of the players here so they may as well be from Fanad at this stage.
“All we can do is keep the head down and keep putting the pressure on those above us.”
Fanad will have a break from league action this weekend when they take on Buncrana Hearts in the FAI Junior Cup on home turf on Sunday (kick-off, 1.30pm).
Buncrana are currently top of the Inishowen League with eight wins from eight matches so it will be a good gauge of where Fanad are at.
“We want big games.
“Traigh-a-Loch is no stranger to having big games and events and next Sunday will be no different.
“We’re looking forward to entertaining Buncrana and trying to get through to the next round of the cup.
“If we’re to do anything in it, then we will have to do it the hard way.
“We had a tough match against Donegal Town in the last round, and the winners of ourselves and Buncrana have to play Kildrum
before you’re even out of the county.
“That’s three tough games. Whoever comes out of that will deserve to get out of the county, so we’re looking forward to seeing what next weekend brings.
