Y MATTHEW WILSON

Fanad United manager Arthur Lynch is looking forward to getting their campaign underway next weekend as their aim to win back the Premier Division title.

It was a solid season for the Fanad outfit last time out, finishing third in the Premier Division while reaching the last eight of the FAI Junior Cup before bowing out to Limerick side Fairview Rangers.

The Fanad Boss stated that there’s been no major changes for them during the off season and they’ll be aiming to maintain their progression in the campaign ahead.

“There’s been no real changes with us, it’ll be much the same. We’ve a lot of good young fellas coming through so we’ll be hoping to build on that. In the last few seasons we’ve been quite progressive, we’d a good run in the Junior Cup last year so we’d like to build on it and carry on.”

Ahead of the start of the new Premier Division campaign, the Fanad men have lost Patrick McGinley who is heading Down Under while Darragh O’Doherty is joining Kerrykeel ‘71.

However, they’ve been boosted by a few young players who are being integrated into the setup from the youth team while Ronan Gallagher is also rejoining for the upcoming season.

“There’s a few of the young lads coming through from the Under-18s and we’d be looking to get them up to speed. Ronan Gallagher has come back to us, he was up with Finn Harps when he left the youth set-up and he was around the (Donegal GAA) county team. He was away at college but he’s back so he’s going to be an addition to us.”

Arthur Lynch’s side begin their campaign next Sunday when they host Keadue Rovers at Traigh-a-Loch .

Fanad United were Premier Division champions in 2022/23 and 2023/24 but they lost their title to Letterkenny Rovers last season as they went unbeaten.

Ahead of the latest edition of the Premier Division, the Fanad boss expressed that the aim is undoubtedly for the side to seek silverware and try to win the competitions which they are participating in.

“If anyone’s aim is anything other than winning league and cups then what’s anybody’s aim, that’s what it has to be. Every season you start, your aim has to be to win the competitions that you go into, that has always been my motto and it’ll not change.”