YNYS Mon men’s squad member Mel McGinness paid tribute to the home support after they clinched Huws Gray Inter-Island Games tournament gold.

The former Holyhead Hotspur talisman and new Porthmadog signing played a leading role in his side’s success during the competition, which culminated in a sensational come-from-behind victory over Guernsey in front of more than 3,000 spectators at The New Stadium.

McGinness managed to covert an opportunity that proved decisive in the overall outcome, and the experienced forward said the whole experience of playing in front of the Anglesey crowd has “topped everything” he has ever experienced with the Ynys Mon set-up previously.

He said: “It has been mental. The crowd that came out has made the experience a whole lot better than when I went away with Ynys Mon 12 years ago.

“When I travelled to Rhodes and the Isle of Man there wasn’t anything like a crowd such as this and Anglesey has topped it all. The crowd have made this tournament.

“Most of the lads haven’t come across each other that much before the tournament besides playing against each other once or twice a season, but from the moment we joined up everything just clicked.

“Some of the lads in the squad didn’t get any minutes at all and we have won it for them.”

McGinness also revealed he vowed to make for lost time in the final after missing Ynys Mon’s semi-final triumph over tournament favourites Jersey due to suspension, and he lived up to his word to round off an outstanding competition from the player.

“I felt like I owed the lads after getting two yellows in the group stages,” he added.

“I said get me to the final and I will win it for us, and luckily I got a chance and put it away. Confidence was high after the Jersey game and we managed to get the job done at home.”