Cockhill Celtic FC – 4 (P McKinney (2), M Coyle & R Doherty)
Derry City Reserves – 1 (McColgan)
A brace, from Cockhills Paul McKinney (pictured), helped a much changed home side secure a comfortable 4-1 victory in this league cup encounter against a young Derry team and thus secure top spot and a home tie in the semi-final.
On two minutes a Ronan Doherty free kick from the right was headed narrowly wide by Laurence Toland. On 16 minutes a defence splitting pass from Malachy McDermott releases Doherty on the left, his cross was well defended by Sam Todd. The resulting corner was cleared as far as McDermott whose shot was well dealt with by Jason McCallion in the Derry goal. In a first half that Cockhill largely dominated it was not until the last 5 minutes before the break did we see any goals, with 41 minutes on the clock Mark Coyle makes ground on the left and digs out a fantastic cross which Paul McKinney heads home from 8 yards giving McCallion no chance. Derry responded with nice interplay through midfield and a shot from Conor Gormley which is well held by Lee McCarron. Derry level the game on 44 minutes when the busy Lee McColgan, spotted McCarron slightly off his line and hits a speculative effort, from near 40 yards, which McCarron touches onto the bar but rebounds into the net off the keeper’s head. Cockhill regain the lead on the stroke of half-time when McKinney converts a penalty after the Derry keeper McCallion brings down Mark Moran after an initial great run and past by Laurence Toland who had a very effective game as an emergency right back

Mark Coyle made it 3-1 to the home side when he advanced from midfield and fired home with the aid of a deflection from 25 yards low to the keepers left hand corner. It was 4-1 on 74 minutes, and what a finishes it was. Cockhill worked a short corner on the right and when Ronan Doherty (Olly) picked up the return past from Captain James Bradley he advanced to the corner of the 18 yard box before curling a piece of an effort into the top corner with McCallion having no chance. Derry continued to play but, without an outlet, are reduced to speculative efforts from midfield which fail to trouble McCarron. Final score from the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds Cockhill Celtic FC – 4, Derry City Reserves – 1