Advertisement

Massive month for trophy hungry Cockhill Celtic

COCKHILL Celtic begin their hunt to win a treble in the month of May as they take on Bonagee United in the Donegal News USL League Cup final today at Maginn Park (kick-off, 4pm).

Cockhill beat Buncrana in the Ulster Senior Cup semi-final on Sunday, so with their remaining four games of the season, they have three titles on the line.

And that challenge begins in Maginn Park in Buncrana this weekend, as Gavin Cullen’s men look to clean up the silverware on offer in Donegal.

Advertisement

“We’ve had a big couple of months and we seem to have one big game after the next the last while,” Cullen said.

“It’s great to be involved in and it’s great to be in the finals or the latter stages of every competition we’ve entered this season so it’s been good so far but we have a few more weeks to keep it going at this point.”

Cockhill Celtic were thrown out of this competition after qualifying for the final last year.

They were due to play this weekend’s opponents in that final 12 months ago but due to the fielding of an ineligible player in the semi-finals in Adam McCarron, Monaghan United were awarded a 3-0 win and advanced to the final, which Bonagee would win.

And now they hope they can right the wrongs of last season.

“It was disappointing the way things panned out last year and the way it was handled was poor.

“But we did wrong, we played Adam in the semi-final and he was cup tied from August the year before so obviously the biggest disappointment was that the guys didn’t get to play in the final so hopefully we can make up for it this year.”

Advertisement

With these two teams battling it out for the league title, and having met in the other cups already this season, they know each other inside out by this point.

Cockhill made the final by topping their group of five of the Ulster Senior League teams, winning all five games while Bonagee only lost to Cockhill and defeated the other three teams in the group

Cockhill have had the better of their opponents with wins in the FAI Intermediate Cup, earlier in this competition, and in the league, but there is always danger and no certainties when they face Bonagee.

But Cockhill will want to keep the momentum going this season as they still have plenty up for grabs.

“The first trophy I suppose is always the hardest to win in any season and this will be no different, this is the top two teams in the county going head to head so there should be a big crowd and a lot of interest in it as well, but it’ll be a tough game.

“There’s nothing much between the teams, Bonagee have loads and loads of experience on the pitch and loads of quality.

“Every game against them is tight but we have a belief in our own abilities and we don’t look too much at the opposition.

“In most games we think we can go out and do our own jobs and win the match and hopefully come Sunday we’ll do that as well.

“But it’ll not be easy, it’ll be a tight game.

“There has always been a good belief in this squad and the players and we’ve been going well, we’ve been involved in some big games and we’re enjoying it at the minute.

“Obviously we need to win a few trophies as well and that’s the plan come Sunday.”

Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere

SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007
(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)
Every Thursday
Every Monday
Top
Advertisement

Donegal News is published by North West of Ireland Printing & Publishing Company Limited, trading as North-West News Group.
Registered in Northern Ireland, No. R0000576. St. Anne's Court, Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland