USL PREVIEW: NEW SWILLY ROVERS manager Gerry Crossan says he doesn’t need ‘super stars’ at Swilly Park, but that his men will battle for their points.
Although denied a win in each of their two Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League games so far this term, Crossan has been pleased with his squad since he assumed charge following Aaron Rogan’s departure.
Swilly led against both Bonagee United and Fanad United only to be hit by late concessions each time.
The Ramelton men are out of the frying pan and into the fire this Sunday when they make the short trip to face old foes Letterkenny Rovers at Leckview Park (kick-off 2pm).
“You don’t like losing goals in the dying minutes when you could be taking maximum points from games,” Crossan said.
On Sunday, John McGarvey’s late goal for Fanad thwarted Swilly, who led thanks to a fine opener from Ryan McDaid.
“We probably have to be happy when you look at the chances the other teams and the possession that other teams have had against us.
“Bonagee, in fairness, deserved something against us, but we had real chances to put the Fanad game to put and it was disappointing to lose the goal late on. We weren’t clinical enough up to that point.”
Crossan has been involved in managing at inter-league level with the Donegal Schoolboys and also looks after underage teams at Swilly. This is his first venture into the Ulster Senior League.
He said: “It’s probably more than I bargained for, but the boys have responded well. We have 24 or 25 players in the squad and most of them are from the immediate area.
“The question I pose all the time to the boys is? Are we the calibre who will put an effort in and who are good enough to be here?
“We aren’t littered with high profile players, but it has been positive so far. We don’t need super stars, but these boys will spill blood and sweat – and that’s what they’ve given so far.
“After two games with them, they seem up to it. People doubted if we were good enough, but we want to show that people shouldn’t be overlooking us.
“They’re going to have to do this week-in, week-out, though. They’ll need to go out each week with a backs-to-the-wall mindset.”
Letterkenny are one of the early-season title favourites. Eamon McConigley’s squad has lost Mark Forker, who is moving to Dubai in the coming weeks, while David Shovlin is out injured.
As they showed on Sunday, though, when they drew 2-2 with Cockhill at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds, Rovers are battle-hardened and the new faces have slipped seamlessly into the squad.
Meetings between Letterkenny and Swilly have become the stuff of legend around the two clubs.
It’s all new to Crossan, though. He said: “I’m only a ‘blow-in’ here so maybe I don’t get the sense of rivalry, but Letterkenny are a big club and for me this is another game that we want to get something from and for us to show that we have made progress.
“For the local lads, it’s maybe more personal.”
There are just two games down for decision on Sunday.
The other game sees Derry City Reserves host Bonagee United.
Bonagee manager Peter Moran was involved at Derry City’s Under-21s in a previous guise and Aidan McCauley, a recent recruit for Moran at Dry Arch Park, has signed for Bonagee having been at the Candystripes.
McCauley has shown his worth so far in his time at Bonagee and they’ll be looking to build on Sunday’s 2-1 win over Finn Harps Reserves, when Francesco Crisco and Aidan McLaughlin netted.
Kenny Shiels has been using the USL to blood young members of his squad and it has been common for members of the Derry first team to see action in the local intermediate grade too.
RESULTS
Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League, Sunday October 2
Bonagee United 2-1 Finn Harps Reserves
Cockhill Celtic 2-2 Letterkenny Rovers
Swilly Rovers 1-1 Fanad United
FIXTURES
Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League, Sunday October 9, kick-off 2pm
Letterkenny Rovers v Swilly Rovers Paul Duffy; assistants Marty Quinn and Vincent McLoughlin
Derry City Reserves v Bonagee United Packie Coll; assistants Marty McGarrigle, Michael Connolly.
| USL | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| Letterkenny Rovers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Cockhill Celtic | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Bonagee United | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Swilly Rovers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Fanad United | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| Finn Harps Reserves | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| Derry City Reserves | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
CUP DRAW
THE DRAW for the second round of the 2016/17 FAI Intermediate Cup was made earlier today at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown.
Cockhill Celtic, who overcame last season’s finalists Letterkenny Rovers in the opening round, have been handed a home tie against Swilly Rovers.
A goal by Derek Doherty in the sixth minute saw Cockhill defeat Letterkenny on a day when player-manager Gavin Cullen was Man of the Match.
Now, Cockhill will host Gerry Crossan’s Swilly in the next round.
Fanad United, two times winner of the Intermediate Cup in 1988 and 1995, will be at home to Bonagee United.
FAI Intermediate Cup second round draw
Cockhill Celtic v Swilly Rovers
Fanad United v Bonagee United
* ties to be played on the weekend ending October 23
INTERPROVINCIALS
THE Ulster Senior League Inter-Provincial squad, under the management of Peter Moran (Bonagee United) continued their preparation for next weekend’s FAI Intermediate Interprovincials with a 2-0 win over Institute on Tuesday night,
Laurence Toland (Swilly Rovers) and Stephen Duffy (Derry City Reserves) netted the goals for the USL selection.
Ulster Senior League team: Harry Doherty (Cockhill Celtic); Gareth Breslin (Bonagee United), Conor Tourish (Letterkenny Rovers), Derek Doherty (Cockhill Celtic), Matthew Crossan (Fanad United); Seamus Friel (Fanad United), Aidan McCauley (Bonagee United), Ronan Wilson (Derry City Reserves), Paul McVeigh (Letterkenny Rovers); Davitt Walsh (Fanad United), Laurence Toland (Swilly Rovers). Subs used: Ronan Doherty (Cockhill Celtic), Peter Doherty (Cockhil Celtic), Dean Brown (Derry City Reserves), Stephen Duffy (Derry City Reserves), Conor Keddy (Cockhill Celtic).
THE FIXTURES have been confirmed for next weekend’s FAI Intermediate Inter-League Tournament in Cork.
The Ulster Senior League squad will be under the guidance of Bonagee United boss Peter Moran, with Letterkenny Rovers’ Anthony Gorman also on the management team.
The USL will open the tournament on Friday-week, October 14, at St Mary’s Park.
On the Saturday, the USL selection will take on Connacht in Corinthians Park before completing their weekend on the Sunday by taking on hosts Munster at Turner’s Cross, the home of Cork City.
The Ulster Senior League were last winners of the Michael Ward Trophy in 2013 and 2014.
The USL squad has yet to be finalised.
Friday, October 14, 7.30pm
Leinster Senior League v Ulster Senior League St Mary’s Park
Connacht v Munster Senior League Knockgriffin, Midleton
Saturday, October 15
1.30pm
Ulster Senior League v Connacht Corinthians Park
3.30pm
Munster Senior League v Leinster Senior League O’Shea Park, Blarney
Sunday, October 16, 10.45am
Leinster Senior League v Connacht Ringmahon Park
Munster Senior League v Ulster Senior League Turner’s Cross
CLUB NOTES
ULSTER Senior League clubs are asked to forward weekly notes to new League PRO Chris McNulty at chrismcnulty86@gmail.com for circulation to the media and for inclusion on the Ulster Senior League website.
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