ARTHUR Lynch remains upbeat for the future at Fanad United.
The 14-times Ulster Senior champions are undergoing a period of transition and Lynch has hailed the endeavour of his young charges.
Lynch and Paul Nash, two mainstays of a glorious period of success at the club, are steering the good ship Traigh-A-Loch now.
They might well be waiting for a first League win of the season, but Lynch insists the tide will turn.
“We have a bunch of young fellas who are putting in a massive effort,” he said.
“Even in the position that we’re in, there are nights we go to training and have 16 or 18 there. You really can’t ask for much more than that.
“I think, to be honest, we need a little bit of luck to go our way and maybe get lucky with a decision here or there. When you’re at the bottom, things like that don’t go for you.
“They’re gaining experience all the time and that will stand to them. They’re learning and working all the time and the big thing for me is that they’re willing to learn.
“If we could dd a couple more experienced players, the future will definitely be bright.”
Fanad travel to face Bonagee United on Saturday evening at Dry Arch Park. Bonagee are still smarting from the chastening experience of a heavy 4-0 loss to Derry City Reserves last Thursday, but Lynch has been encouraged by Fanad’s displays against the top sides.
For instance, last month they had a 2-0 lead against Letterkenny Rovers in the Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup, before they lost 4-2 to four second-half goals.
“The day against Letterkenny, a bit of inexperience was the reason we lost,” Lynch said. “We took the feet off the gas when we should have pushed on. That was as steep a learning curve as you’ll get. We need to take the first half that day as a real positive. We also played Bonagee and got a late equaliser and Cockhill scored a winner against us that we felt wasn’t over the line.
“That’s the wee rub of the green we need to go for us. Myself and Paul Nash said we’ll stick with them to give them a good crack. We have boys there from 17 working hard and I do believe it will turn for them.”
Lynch has hailed the inception of the North West of Ulster Intermediate Cup, which will see USL teams joust with sides form the Northern Ireland Intermediate League.
He said: “The new competition is a real plus and a shot in the arm for us. It’s something that should have been done a long time ago. Teams in there are in the same situation as we are. They’re pushing to bring young players in and feed onto senior football.
“They have the same mindset as we do and it’s exciting to be going now to play new team.
“I think football in Donegal would be more stronger if there was the same cohesion and engagement. I hope that more teams from Donegal and Inishowen would bite the bullet and give it a crack.
“I think football, overall, in Donegal needs a look at itself and we need to find a way of making it stronger.”
