The concession of late goals has had new Swilly Rovers manager Tony McNamee tearing the hair from his scalp of late.
Goals against Fanad United, Finn Harps Reserves, Letterkenny Rovers and Derry City Reserves have denied Swilly right at the death in games.
Swilly were locked with Letterkenny heading into the final ten minutes – when Eamon McConigley’s Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League leaders struck twice.
Finn Harps netted a late equaliser, Fanad bagged a 95th minute winner and, two weeks ago, Derry City Reserves pounced for the only goal of the game in the 94th minute.
“If only games ended at 80 minutes!” says McNamee.
“It comes down to not being fit enough. The players switch off and it’s no coincidence that we concede late goals.
“We are trying to play as many young, local players as possible, but the reality is that some players aren’t giving their all.”
Swilly face a daunting trip on Sunday as they head for the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Ground to face six-in-a-row champions Cockhill Celtic.
James McCahill is suspended and Ciaran Toland out injured. McNamee has elevated Frankie Campbell and Eoin Logue from his youth team’s ranks.
“I know Cockhill have had a couple of losses recently, but they’re still the top team as far as I’m concerned,” McNamee says.
“Cockhill beat us 4-0 earlier in the season. It’s going to be hard for us to build. We can’t compete with a lot of the teams in the League.
“The transfer window opens in December so we’ll see what we can do there. I’m disappointed that I’ve already lost one senior player and a couple of under-18s to a club – even before the transfer window opens.”
The manager’s son, Tony McNamee junior, has been spoken to by Finn Harps recently with a view to rejoining the squad.
“If Tony leaves it would be a massive blow,” McNamee senior says.
“We couldn’t get anyone near his quality. Even though we’ve only had one draw in our five matches, Tony has been easily the main man in those games.”
Swilly have endured a couple of troubled seasons, but McNamee’s main aim has been to ease the rocky patches.
“We set our the stall to steady the ship,” he says. “ We did steady it for a while, but it seems it might wobble. We just have to see what we can do. Compared to the last couple of years, when teams were going out against Swilly trying to keep the score down, it’s improved, I suppose.
“But we still need help in the club all through it.”
With Gavin Cullen’s Cockhill in wait, McNamee knows the task that faces his men at the weekend.
He says: “They’ve been champions now for six years. We know what we’re up against. We’ll go out and try to do what we did in Derry. We conceded late and it was backs to the wall stuff, but we did okay in that game.”
RESULTS
FAI Intermediate Cup
Bonagee United 1 Midleton 4
Pegasus/St James’ Athletic 1 Letterkenny Rovers 5
Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League
Cockhill Celtic 5 Fanad United 1
FIXTURES
Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League
Friday, November 30, 7.45pm
Finn Harps Reserves v Bonagee United (at Dry Arch Park)
Sunday, December 2, 2pm
Letterkenny Rovers v Fanad United
Cockhill Celtic v Swilly Rovers
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