FINN HARPS TO MAKE USL RETURN THIS SUNDAY:
FINN HARPS RESERVES will belatedly begin their Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League season this Sunday when they make the short trip over the Bullock Park to face Bonagee United at Dry Arch Park.
Harps, who are expected to largely comprise Under-17 and Under-19 players, have returned to the League following a 20-month absence.
Harps were set to mark their return on Saturday evening, but the north-west derby against Derry City Reserves was called off because of a waterlogged pitch at Finn Park.
The previous evening, Harps’ League of Ireland Premier Division clash with St Patrick’s Athletic was postponed at the eleventh hour by referee Tom Connolly.
Now, Harps will get underway against the club that provided the opposition for their previous game in the USL, back in February 2015, Bonagee.
Harps – winners of the USL back in 1999 – have since restructured their underage structure, led by Under-19 manager Joe Boyle and will be welcomed addition into the ranks of the Ulster Senior League again.
Bonagee drew their opening League game against Swilly Rovers when a late Aidan McLaughlin goal cancelled out a second-minute opener by Laurence Toland.
A week on from their tense and tight FAI Intermediate Cup clash, Cockhill Celtic and Letterkenny Rovers will renew adquaintances at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds this Sunday.
Derek Doherty netted the only goal of the game at Leckview Park on Sunday to put Cockhill through at the expense of Letterkenny, last year’s Intermediate Cup finalists.
Cockhill have won the USL for the last four seasons and began the latest defence of the crown with a slender 1-0 win over Fand United when Mark Moran netted.
Cockhill are without the injured Malachy McDermott and Garbhan Friel, but with the likes of Ryan Varma and Paul McKinney used off the bench on Sunday, the Inishowen men showed strength in depth.
The same could be said for Rovers, who took former Finn Harps man Mark Forker on as a substitute on Sunday. Darragh Black could return to the Cathedral Town squad this weekend, while Conor Tourish has been showing fine form since signing in the summer.
Rovers began their League campaign with a 2-1 win over Derry City Reserves when they gamely held out thanks to goals from Steve Okakpu-Emeka and Darren McElwaine.
In Sunday’s other game, Swilly Rovers – now under the management of Gerry Crossan – will host their old rivals Fanad United at Swilly Park.
Michael Devine began the season at Swilly, but has since signed for Fanad and is in line to face his former team-mates this weekend.
Swilly drew 1-1 with Bonagee on the opening day while Fanad, who have added considerably to their ranks over the summer months, ran Cockhill close, only to lose 1-0.
Swilly are without the suspended Marty McDaid for this one, but could see Jordan Toland included in the squad.
Results:
Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League, Saturday September 24
Finn Harps Reserves P-P Derry City Reserves
FAI Intermediate Cup, First Round, Sunday, September 25
Letterkenny Rovers 0-1 Cockhill Celtic
Fixtures:
Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League, Sunday October 2, kick-off 2pm
- Bonagee United v Finn Harps Michael Connolly
- Cockhill Celtic v Letterkenny Rovers Vincent McLoughlin; assistants Paul Duddy, Marty Quinn
- Swilly Rovers v Fanad United Marty McGarrigle
GOOD LUCK DERRY CITY:
THE executive committee and the clubs of the Ulster Senior League would like to convey our best wishes to Derry City, who take on Dundalk in the semi-final of the FAI Cup at Oriel Park on Sunday. City manager Kenny Shiels has been very active in his support of the USL and several of the players who will be on show in this weekend’s semi-final have graduated from the USL ranks and, indeed, could appear in the League throughout the season.
‘FR MICK’:
AN APPRECIATION night is being held this Friday night, September 30, to honour Ulster Senior League founding member Fr Michael Sweeney. Fr Sweeney was instrumental in the formation of the USL in 1986 and was also a founder member of Fanad United FC in 1972.
As a manager, he won an All-Ireland Schools title in 1982, an FAI Youth Cup with Fanad United in 1979 and, the daddy of them all, the FAI Intermediate Cup with Fanad in 1988.
Tickets for Friday’s function are available at the Silver Tassie Hotel or contact Paul McFadden 086-6031176, Ben McBride 087-9887983 or Johnny Kelly 085-1458142.
CLUB NOTES:
ULSTER Senior League clubs are asked to forward weekly notes to new League PRO Chris McNulty at chrismcnulty86@gmail.com for circulation to the media and for inclusion on the Ulster Senior League website.
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