OLD RIVALS FANAD UNITED and Swilly Rovers played out an entertaining no score draw at a windy Traigh-a-Loch on Tuesday evening in the Ulster Senior League.
Fanad United 0-0 Swilly Rovers
Fanad would definitely have come away from this game feeling it was a missed chance to get their first victory of the season as they dominated possession and created more chances, especially in the first half.
Photo caption: Fanad United
Fanad played with the aid of a strong wind in the first half and their first chance of the game came in the fifth minute when Seimi “Coshia” Friel seen his well struck free kick from 25 yards fly just wide of the post.
Four minutes later Keelin McElwaine went on a mazy run into the box but he struck his shot straight at Gareth Wade in the Swilly goal.
In the 13th minute the returning Paddy McGranaghan showed some great skill to set up Davitt Walsh who seen his shot go wide.
Two minutes later Walsh was in the thick of the action again as he broke into the box only to see Gareth Wade produce a superb point blank save to deny him. Swilly had Wade to thank again in the 20th minute when he produced another fine save to deny Brian McVeigh.
In the 25th minute Davitt Walsh will feel he should have done better when he was set up by a fine cross from Shaun McElwaine but he seen his header fly wide of the post. Wade was back in action again on the half hour when he did well to hold a fierce shot from McVeigh after McGranaghan had again set him up.
Swilly’s only real chance of note in the first half came five minutes before the interval when Dylan Hegarty sent a free kick from 25 yards just over the bar.
The Swilly Rovers side that drew with Fanad United in the Ulster Senior League on Tuesday night
Despite playing against the wind for the second half, Fanad started the stronger of the two teams.
Two minutes in Gareth Wade again showed his class when he made a fantastic point blank save to deny Davitt Walsh.
Just before the hour-mark, Paddy McGranaghan sent a teasing free into the box which Michael McGinley got the faintest of touches to but the ball went straight into the arms of a grateful Wade. Swilly finally started to come into the game in the last half an hour and put pressure on the Fanad defence.
Despite forcing a succession of corners they were unable to test Oran Blaney in the Fanad goal. In the 65th minute Fanad substitute Paddy Carr produced a great clearance in the box when it seemed Adam Sahli was going to score. In the 75th minute Calvin Mooney dragged his shot wide of the post when well placed.
Swilly’s best chance arrived nine minutes from time through substitute Caolan Murray. When Fanad were awarded a corner, Swilly broke the length of the pitch and when the ball fell to Murray, his shot went agonisingly wide of the post. With virtually the last kick of the game Fanad spurned yet another chance to gain an equaliser.
When Eric Roberts whipped in a dangerous corner, Conor McGonigle seen his shot fly just wide of Wade’s post.
Overall Swilly manager Jason Gibson will be the happier of the two managers while Arthur Lynch will be left ruing the chances his team missed.
Best for Fanad were Paddy McGranaghan, Brian McVeigh, Ryan McGonigle. Best for Swilly were Dylan Hegarty, Shaun Crossan and the impressive Gareth Wade
Fanad United: Oran Blaney, Michael McGinley, Shaun McElwaine, Seimi Friel, Oisin Langan, Darren Lynch(Patrick Carr 57), Paddy McGranaghan, Ryan McGonigle, Keelin McElwaine, Davitt Walsh, Brian McVeigh(Eric Roberts 76)
Swilly Rovers: Gareth Wade, Dylan Hegarty, Shay Durning, Shaun Crossan, Ryan McDaid, Martin McDaid, Brandon Toye, Daniel O’Donnell, Mark Wilson (Caolan Murray 75), Calvin Mooney, Adam Sahli
Referee: Packie Coll
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