Cockhill are just champion 13.10.10
Ulster Senior League Football

Derry City Reserves...1 Cockhill Celtic...4 by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent, at Oakgrove College (Photos: Herbie Barr) COCKHILL Celtic were crowned Ulster Senior League champions for the first time after brushing aside the challenge of a young Derry City Reserves outfit at Oakgrove College on Sunday afternoon. Needing only one point to secure the title, Donal O’Brien’s men grabbed all three courtesy of goals by Barry McColgan, Garbhan Friel and a brace from man of the match, Mark Moran. A second-half strike by Derry forward Sean McCarron did little to spoil the Cockhill party, which began at 3.30pm after Moran collected Gerry Gill’s expert flick and confidently stroked the ball home to put his team into an unassailable 4-1 lead with ten minutes remaining. Cue scenes of unbridled joy as the entire Cockhill team and sideline staff, including manager, Donal O’Brien, mobbed the pacy winger to celebrate the biggest moment in the club’s history. “I think we deserved it,” said manager Donal O’Brien as he looked on from the sideline with a few minutes to go. Few could argue with the ex-Derry City and Finn Harps star, who has galvanised the best squad of players in the county. Apart from goalkeeper Stephen Conroy, who hails from Strabane, O’Brien has achieved title glory with homegrown Inishowen talent.

When the Ulster Senior League got underway earlier this year not many would have tipped Cockhill for success but the men from Inishowen have proven themselves as the best team in the county after a season of stunning displays. The Ulster Senior League trophy, presented to club captain Liam O’Donnell at 3.45pm, now takes pride of place in the Cockhill Celtic trophy cabinet, which is also home to the Donegal News Cup – won last September after another comprehensive victory over Derry’s second string. Spurred on by more than one hundred local supporters, who made the journey to Derry’s Waterside, Cockhill started the game like men possessed.

Flying into the tackle all across the pitch, the Inishowen men stalked the ball ferociously, denying the Derry youngsters time on the ball. Creating the game’s first real opening, Mark Moran skipped down the wing and crossed for Liam O’Donnell, who saw his shot cleared off the line with Derry keeper Sean O’Donnell scrambling across his goal. A constant threat with the dead ball all afternoon, Gerry Gill almost found Paul McKinney in the clear but O’Donnell was quickly out to gather in the Derry goal. The early goal, which Cockhill craved, arrived in the thirteenth minute after Barry McColgan powered home Gerry Gill’s corner; the big defender rising highest in a crowded goalmouth to head his team one step closer to history. Settling into his task well, Greencastle teenager James Henry had Derry on the attack moments later, finding Sean McCarron, who dragged his shot wide.

Cockhill carried the greater threat in attack though and doubled their advantage midway through the opening period when Mark Moran got on the end of William O’Connor’s angled pass and broke forward before firing past O’Donnell in the Derry goal at the second time of asking. The men from Inishowen were in dreamland just before the break when Garbhan Friel headed a third after another excellent delivery from a Gerry Gill corner. With one hand on the title, Cockhill began the second period cautiously and conceded a goal only three minutes in after Sean McCarron volleyed home Mickey McCrudden’s centre. The goal sparked the young Candy Stripes into life and they almost reduced the deficit further when McCrudden fired wide before Ryan McBride headed an Adam Clarke corner over the bar.

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