Fanad United 5-0 Keadue Rovers
BY RYAN FERRY
FANAD United laid down a marker in the Brian McCormick Sports & Leisure Premier Division by hammering Keadue Rovers at Traigh-a-Loch on Sunday.
Keadue started the game reasonably well but goals from Eddie O’Reilly and Liam McGrenaghan had Fanad 2-0 ahead at the break.
Ronan Gallagher came off the bench to score an eight-minute hat-trick for Fanad, who are starting to find their groove under new manager, Paul Friel.
Both teams came into the match in decent form but it was Keadue who started the better.
Ethan McCaffrey had an opening from the edge of the box in the seventh minute
Jack Tracey then raced through after good play from Aidan McHugh but the winger shot wide under pressure from Fanad ‘keeper Mark McConigley.
Fanad offered little in the first twenty minutes but then took the lead against the run of play.
Darren McElwaine slipped the ball down the right to Peter Carr who drilled across goal and Eddie O’Reilly smashed home from close range.
That sparked Friel’s charges into life and O’Reilly supplied a nice cross but Mark McAteer just couldn’t stretch high enough to score.
Keadue goalkeeper Caelan Bonner then produced a good save to top Darren McElwaine’s shot out for a corner.
However, Fanad grabbed their second from the resulting set-piece. Darren McElwaine supplied a good cross and Liam McGrenaghan met the ball well with a cushioned volley into the net.
Mark McAteer almost grabbed a third late in the half but Fanad were happy with a two-goal lead at the break.
Keadue had work to do and they did up the ante initially.
An Ethan McCaffrey free-kick wasn’t cleared and Oran Fallon tried his luck but effort went wide.
Fanad carried a greater threat in attack and Caelan Bonner had to make a great save to top over Darren McElwaine’s free-kick.
Ronan Gallagher was introduced up front for the home team and he seized upon a poor mistake by Michael Greene but then ballooned his shot into the field across the road with only the netminder to beat.
Gallagher didn’t have to wait long for a chance to redeem himself as Peter Carr set him up in the 68th minute and the striker drilled into the bottom corner.
Keadue were causing themselves problems trying to work the ball out of defence and another sloppy error allowed Darren McElwaine to make ground and he squared the ball to Gallagher who finished smartly off his left foot.
Gallagher completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute. Eoin Logue tried to play a through ball and once again Keadue couldn’t clear the danger and Gallagher was in the right spot to score again.
Darren McElwaine and Peter Carr went close late in for Fanad but they were more than happy with their emphatic victory.
Keadue were poor on the day and will have to improve if they are to stick the pace at the top of the table.
Fanad United: Mark McConigley; Peter Curran, Seamie Friel, Caolan McElwaine, Liam McGrenaghan; Daibhid Lynch, Keelin McElwaine; Peter Carr, Darren McElwaine, Eddie O’Reilly; Mark McAteer. Subs: Oisin Langan for C.McElwaine (53 mins), Ronan Gallagher and Eoin Logue for Lynch and M.McAteer (63 mins), Charlie McAteer for O’Reilly (77 mins), Adam Carr for D.McElwaine (86 mins).
Keadue Rovers: Caelan Bonner; Oisin McDowell, Martin Ferry, Chris Greene, Pauric Neeley; Jack Tracey, Michael Greene, Mark Forker, Oran Fallon; Aidan McHugh, Ethan McCaffrey. Subs: Oran McHugh for Tracey (63 mins), Jordan Lee Doogan and Lennon Cowley for Forker and McCafrey (84 mins).
Referee: Damien McFadden.
