Fanad moves back to the top of the table after a 2-1 victory over Kildrum Tigers at Traigh-a-Loch.
This top of the table Premier League clash as expected produced a very keenly contested ninety minutes plus.
After Ronan McKinney had gone close in the third minute the League leaders Kildrum Tigers played the last hour with ten men following the sending off of Daniel Clarke in the 28th minute.
The midfielder initially received a yellow but that was immediately followed by a straight red from Referee Marty McGarrigle for something said by the midfielder, a huge blow for the visitors.
Fanad Utd had plenty of possession in the opening half but didn’t really trouble keeper Chris O Donnell from open play.
However they took the lead just before halftime when Edward O Reilly volleyed Darren McElwaine’s dangerous free-kick high into the net, 1-0 to Fanad at the break.
Kildrum Tigers
That quickly became 2-0 seven minutes into the second-half when Edward O Reilly and just introduced Peter Carr combined on the right side and the latter’s cross was headed home from close range by Eoin Logue, 2-0 and Kildrum with it all to do.
They were almost back in it in the 56th minute when Matthew Crossan’s piledriver from thirty yards came back of the post with Mark McConigley beaten.
To their credit Kildrum’s ten men kept their work rate to a high level and made Fanad working very hard to hold onto their advantage, and as the game headed to it’s final fifteen minutes the visitors were still in it.
And that began even more likely in the 77th minute when substitute Kealan Gillen produced a cracking shot from out on the right side flew into the far top on the net, 2-1 and game now really on. But despite the best effort of Kildrum’s 10 men, Fanad held on for this important victory.
Fanad Utd ; Mark McConigley, Declan McGarvey, Liam McGreneghan, Oisin Langan, James Gallagher, Paddy McGinley ( Peter Carr 50mins), Keelin McElwaine ( Declan O Donnell 85mins), Patrick Carr, Eoin Logue, Edward O Reilly, Darren McElwaine.
Kildrum Tigers: Chris O’Donnell, Luke Toland, James McNulty, Michael Lynch, Matthew Crossan, Jamie McKinney ( Frank McBrearty (63mins), Ronan McKinney, Daniel Clarke, James Connolly ( Kealan Gillen 60mins), Brian Breslin ( Charlie Shovelin 88mins), Darryl Browne. Referee; Marty McGarrigle.
Fanad hold on to beat 10-man Kildrum and go top of the table was last modified: November 5th, 2023 by