Inishowen Football League Reports weekend 12th May 2024:
Clubman Shorts League Cup Final
Cockhill Celtic 5
Greencastle FC 0
Played in glorious conditions before a big crowd at Maginn Park goals either side of half time saw Cockhill continue their good form and clinch the Clubman Shirts League Cup. Cockhill started well and when Luke Rudden got on the end of a Corey McBride cross he fired over the bar when well placed.
In the 11th minute Garbhan Friel fed Jack Mullan but Caolan cGrory advanced to smother at his feet before the keepers clearance was collected by Lee McColgan only to see his first time effort saved. From a corner the ball fell to Peter Doherty on the left hand side of the area and his effort was palmed away by McGrory. Greencastle settled and Michael Henry saw one free kick scrambled away by the Cockhill defence before firing another just over the angle.
Cockhill pushed in the closing stages of the half with a Rudden effort headed off the line by Michael Barr.
Then in first half stoppage time Cockhill took the lead after a corner fell to McColgan who fired right footed to the roof of the net from six yards.
Cockhill started the second half well and doubled their lead on 48 minutes after another corner from Corey McBride was headed home by McColgan. Mullan then had an effort well tipped over by McGrory before Jay Bradley scored a cracking goal with a twenty five yards effort to the top corner giving McGrory no chance. Within minutes they added a fourth after McGrory parried a powerful effort from Friel but McBride was first to react to slot the loose ball home.
Greencastle battled to the end with Seamy Mclaughlin heading Nigel McMonagles cross wide before substitute Jamie McCormick had an effort deflected over and another one turned round the post by Harry Doherty.
After a poor clearance in the 83rd minute good interplay ended with McBride bearing down on goal and sliding the ball past the stranded McGrory to clinch the cup for Cockhill.
MAN OF THE MATCH
For Greencastle the experienced Michael Barr and Nigel McMonagle were always prominent while for the winners Peter Doherty & Lee McLaughlin in defence and Corey McBride in attack featured prominently. But on the night it was Lee McColgan who scored the crucial goals either side of half time which gave Cockhill the platform for another success and he is the player of the match.
Hannon Greene Insurances FR O’Gara Cup
Cockhill Youths 3
Redcastle United 2
Cockhill Youths caused a bit of an upset when they defeated first division Redcastle United in an entertaining final punctuated by a twelve minute break when lightning struck early in the game. Cockhill started well with a Ryan McDaid effort saved by Michael McCole before they opened the scoring in the 5th minute when Conor Allen pounced on a loose ball and drilled high to the right hand corner past McCole from twenty yards. But Redcastle equalised on 11 minutes after a superb inswinging free from Shaun Curran saw Darragh O Donnell react brilliantly to keep the ball out but Marc Bell bundled home from close range.
After the lightning induced break it was the younger Cockhill side wo restarted the better with a short free finding Paul Mullan on the right and his ball across found Kieran McElroy to fire home from six yards. Minutes later Darragh McDermott added a third when he looped an effort from thirty yards over McCole to the net.
Redcastle tried to respond and Mark Farren fired over from a tight angle before at the other end McDermott unleashed another effort which flashed just over the bar. Redcastle were denied on 43 minutes when Shaun Curran released Stephen Grant who skipped past a challenge and pulled the ball back to Farren whose goal bound effort was blocked by McElroy at the expense of a corner. Farren had the final effort of a rain sodden first half with an effort from the edge of the area well gathered by O’Donnell.
Redcastle started the second half well with Jack McConollogue crossing for Farren but he failed to get enough on the header. When Eamon Donnelly pumped a high ball into the area it broke for McConnellogue whose first time effort was superbly parried by O’Donnell low to his left. Good build up play on the hour mark then by Cockhill saw McDermott and Christopher Duffy combine to find Mullan on the edge of the area but he curled an effort wide of the right hand post.
Redcastle got a lifeline in the 69th minute when they made it three two after sustained pressure on the Cockhill area saw the ball break for Curran to curl a superb effort to the top left hand corner from sixteen yards. Redcastle tried hard to get back on terms with Grant pulling the ball across the area to substitute Darragh McConway whose goal bound effort was blocked by McElroy.
On 87 minutes a deep corner kick found Josh McConnellogue but his header was saved at the foot of the post by O’Donnell.
With Redcastle pushing men forward Cockhill spurned a good chance with substitute Danny McDaid breaking clear only to see his effort saved by McCole. Cockhill saw the game out and few could argue that they didn’t deserve their success.
MAN OF THE MATCH
For Redcastle Stephen Grant was a threat on the right and Shaun Curran played well in midfield. For the winners O’Donnell in goals had a good game with Ryan Downey , Darragh McDermott and Paul Mullan prominent. But on the day the award goes to centre back Kieran McElroy who scored one goal and made some crucial blocks and interceptions.
