Bonagee United goalkeeper Andrew Nicholls expressed his delight on Saturday evening following their 3-2 victory over Cockhill Celtic.
The Letterkenny outfit met the Inishowen club at Dry Arch Park on Saturday where the visitors hit the front early-on through a Luke Rudden spot-kick.
However, Bonagee United responded well to the early setback and three goals in the closing 20 minutes of Act One set them up for a superb home win.
The victory marked the club’s first victory of the inaugural National League campaign, and it was three points that Nicholls was pleased to secure for everyone involved at the club.
“It was a great victory, I’d say relief is the feeling now in the changing room.
“If you look across the club, all the work that’s gone in to have the place in such good nick.
“The work that ground men and everyone have put in, and even Declan (Lynch) as the manager, we felt that we owed the club a win. It’s great to get the victory today and we’re just delighted.”
Saturday’s meeting between the two Donegal clubs at Dry Arch Park was a brilliant occasion, where a big crowd turned up to watch the action unfold.
This was the first all-Donegal encounter between the three local sides involved in the competition, with the pair set to meet again in two weeks’ time.
Cockhill Celtic are a side the Bonagee United netminder holds in high regard, and so he knew the challenge that they’d present in Letterkenny at the weekend.
“Cockhill, in my opinion anyway, they set the bar for all of the Donegal clubs around junior level.
“Coming in, we knew that they’d be a tough test. They went 1-0 up early and you’re thinking if we can regroup.
“But the reaction was great and fair play to the boys. It was a great occasion for Donegal soccer, there was a great crowd and we’re just delighted to be on the right side of the occasion.”
There’s a number of players involved in the Bonagee United squad that have played at national level previously, but Nicholls is experiencing regular football at this stage for the first time.
However, the 19-year-old appears to be a young head on experienced shoulders and he’s enjoying the journey so far.
“Definitely, I’m enjoying it and every week you’re learning. The older lads in the changing room are brilliant to bring you on and even Declan himself, he’s a brilliant man manager for the younger lads.
“I’m learning every week and I’m learning from the results so it’s great, I’m definitely enjoying it.”