GLENGAD UNITED celebrated the club’s 40th anniversary in style on Saturday night at a gala dinner dance in the Malin Hotel.
The Vice-President of the Football Association of Ireland, Donal Conway, was the special guest of honour, while Dermot O’Brien of the Inishowen League, parish priest Fr Devlin and members of the Toland family were also guests of the club.
Glengad have emerged as one of the Inishowen League’s leading lights in recent years and the packed house on Saturday honoured Shane Byrne’s all-conquering team from last season – who brought four trophies back to The Crua – as well as taking a trip down memory lane.
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Last season, Glengad were Jackie Crossan Premier Division champions and also won the Charlie O’Donnell Cup, the Clubman Shirts League Cup and the Ulster Junior Cup.
Seamus Doherty was the recipient of the rather grand trophy in memory of the late Anthony Toland for Players Player of the Year, while rising star Christy Fildara left with a Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year accolades and Terence Doherty’s 34 goals ensured that he was the top goalscorer.
[adrotate group=”80″]The night was about the past, the present and the future.
Under the management of John Coyle the club won their first Inishowen League honours when they won the First Division and the Fr O’Gara Cup double in the 1982-83 season. Subsequent managers Paddy McLaughlin, Paddy McDermott, Davy Doherty and Liam McClean contributed three First Division titles and four Fr O’Gara Cups between them.
Other managers to serve the club have included Mickey Davenport, Patsy Noone, Patsy Doherty and Jimmy Doherty.
[adrotate group=”38″]Glengad’s reserves made a breakthrough in the 2002-03 season, winning the Reserve First Division title under Tony McColgan. With Johnny McDermott at the helm, they added another in 2007 while in 2013 they were runners-up in the Reserve Shield under Roy Kelly.
Glengad won their first senior title, the Buncrana Credit Union Cup, in the 2010-11 season. This was the catalyst for what is one of Donegal soccer’s most successful sides since. Under Shane Byrne’s charge, Glengad have won two Inishowen League Premier Divisions titles, three League Cups, two Ulster Cups, three Charlie O’Donnell Cups and one Champions League.
With the new development opened at The Crua in 2008, the club continues to go from strength to strength.
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AWARD WINNERS
Club Person of the Year – Roy Kelly
Anthony Toland award – Seamus Doherty (PM)
Senior Player of the Year – Christy Fildara
Senior Top Goalscorer – Terence Doherty (34)
Senior Young Player of the Year – Christy Fildara
Senior Reserves Player of the Year – Paul McGonigle
Reserve Player of the Year – PJ McDaid
Reserve Top Goalscorer – PJ McDaid (17)
Reserve Young Player of the Year – Christopher Doherty (PM)
Inishowen League Premier Division Player of the Year – Christy Fildara
Republic of Ireland junior cap – Matthew Byrne, Rep of Ireland v Northern Ireland, May 21st at Tolka Park.
Representative awards – James McKinney and Christy Fildara (All-Ireland Schools Champions)
Under-18 Player of the Year – Matthew Harley and Aiden Banbrick
Appreciation Awards – Jimmy Doherty, Dan McLaughlin.
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