BY RYAN FERRY

A SPOT in the quarter-finals of the Intermediate Championship is the ‘bare minimum’ that Gaeil Fhánada are targeting this season.

Aidan McAteer is back at the helm at Páirc Uí Shiadhail and is optimistic of what the campaign ahead might hold in store.

Fanad reached the semi-finals in 2022 and 2023 but were stunned by Letterkenny Gaels last season and ended up in the relegation play-offs.

However, McAteer feels there is a stronger group to pick from at the moment, and he expects them to be competitive.

“We have spoken to the players about how open the championship is.

“Definitely at a bare minimum we would be looking to get into a quarter-final.

“The players have been working their socks off. Training has been going well and we have big numbers and all our players are available which hasn’t always been the case in recent years.

“Seamie ‘Nanny’ (Friel) is fit, my own Mark is back. In a club like Fanad, you don’t replace those
type of players when you lose them.

“We have young fells like Ciaran Sweeney and Aaron McConigley that we have blooded this year so I would like to think that we have a bigger panel going into the championship this season.

“That should help us manage the load so we would be hoping to at least make the quarter-finals.”

Soccer commitments took its toll earlier in the year with Fanad United, Kerrykeel ’71, and Whitestrand United all busy until late in their campaigns, and that led to a slow start to Division 2 from McAteer’s charges.

They did pick things up later on and were frustrated not to avoid the relegation play-off but did survive with a win over Naomh Bríd.

“It’s no secret that we didn’t have a great league.

“Then when we did get our act together, we did get some good results. We drew against Ballyshannon and against Ardara and beat Muff and St Naul’s.

“We did get the wheels on the bus again towards the end but it was hard work.”

Gaeil Fhánada begin away to Burt and will also travel to Malin, while they are home against Bundoran and Buncrana.

McAteer feels it will be an interesting few weeks ahead.

“Naomh Muire are probably the team to beat. They are the best team we have played all year.

“After that you have Buncrana and Malin, teams that have been there or thereabouts over the last few years.

“Anyone could beat anyone in that championship this year. It’s probably a better championship than the senior. It’s really competitive.”

Bainisteoir: Aidan McAteer

Captain: Oisin Shiels

Last Year: IFC Relegation semi-finalists

Star Man: Mark McAteer

One to Watch: Ciaran Sweeney.