EST. 1970

Ulster Senior League – Donegal News League Cup
Kildrum Tigers – 0
Cockhill Celtic FC – 2 (G Gill & M Moran)
Sunday 18^th July 2010 @ Station Road, St. Johnston
Cockhill Celtic, under the guidance of Manager Donal O'Brien, have reached thier first final at Intermediate level. Playing an inform Kildrum Tigers side on their home patch was always going to be a tough task, but credit to the visitors thay fully deserved thier victory. Mark Moran and Gerry Gill scored the second-half strikes that fired Cockhill Celtic to victory over Kildrum Tigers on Sunday evening, booking the Inishowen team’s place in the final of this year’s Donegal News USL Cup. Donal O’Brien’s side were full value for this win against a disappointingly off-colour Kildrum who played second fiddle for the most part. Indeed, but for the interventions of goalkeeper Gareth Wade early on, Kildrum could have been beaten well before they were. On seven minutes, Moran found himself in on goal, after Kildrum sloppily lost possession in the middle of the park, but Wade was out well to save with his feet. That was after Kildrum had forced the first opening of the game when Ronan Coyle’s powerful first-time effort from 20 yards cannoned off the head of Steven Conroy, who had dived full-length to his right in the Cockhill goal. Moran continued to torment and in the tenth minute he rounded Declan Boyle before squaring for strike partner Gill, who blazed a great chance high and over. Darren McCready saw a 20-yard effort dip a fraction too late, before the former Derry City midfielder threaded a superb through ball to set Ronan Coyle away. The Tigers hitman, just back from a long injury layoff this week, got there ahead of Conroy, but his lob was narrowly wide. Cockhill continued to press and William McLaughlin delivered a fine ball down the line, which caught the Tigers rearguard out and let Gill in on goal, again though, Cockhill were denied by the resilience of Tigers skipper for the evening Wade who turned the ball away with his leg at the near post. O’Brien’s men grabbed the lead on 54 minutes after Bradley’s telling run down the left flank, Gerry Gill got on the ball inside the box and he carved out a chance to shoot, making no mistake in finding the bottom corner. Cockhill were reduced to ten men when Derek Doherty was sent to the line for leading with his head on Tigers full-back Dermot Kelly. Still, Cockhill remained in the driving seat, however. Maclachy McDermott rattled the crossbar ten minutes from the end, but on 87 minutes the insurance strike was netted when Moran, after getting inside Boyle and Kelly, saw his shot squirm under Wade and into the net, sparking off wild celebrations from the sizeable Cockhill contingent in the big crowd. Kildrum woe was finished in the closing seconds when Friel was given red completing a miserable evening for them. Neil Lloyd and Ronan Coyle battled well for the Tigers, but the stars were all in the Cockhill colours, with McColgan, McDermott, O’Donnell and Moran the pick of the bunch.
Cockhill Celtic FC – Team
Stephen Conroy, Kieran McLaughlin, William O'Connor, Barry McColgan, William McLaughlin, Malachy McDermott, James Bradley, Gerry Gill, Liam O'Donnell, Mark Moran, Derek Doherty Subs. Paul McKinney, Oisin McColgan, John McElroy, Jason McLaughlin, Shane Galvin & Michael O'Connorl
Referee: Stephen Toner