COCKHILL CELTIC manager Gavin Cullen is enjoying the familiar view from the summit of the Ulster Senior League – but has dismissed title talk already as premature.
Champions for the last four seasons, Cockhill moved five points clear at the top with a 3-0 win at Bonagee United.
With only five games played, Cockhill already look like likely winners again having hit 18 goals and conceded just four so far.
“It’s very early in the season,” Cullen said.
“I wouldn’t pay any attention to that. You have a lot of good sides coming. Teams will beat each other in this League.
“Over the season, things will even themselves out. We’ll have off days and drop points, but it’s great to be getting points on the board when other teams are beating each other.”
Goals by Mark Moran, Jason Breslin and Ronan Doherty fired the Inishowen men to victory at Dry Arch Park after another assured performance.
Cullen said: “It’s a big three points. We knew we’d have a tough game against Bonagee, but we acquitted ourselves well and we were excellent in the first half. It was very pleasing.
“We took the foot off the gas in the second half and made bad decisions. It was a wee bit disappointing, but that would be me nit-picking.
“We asked them for more at half-time. First and foremost we wanted a clean sheet and we got that. We didn’t play with the same purpose we did in the first half.”
Bonagee came into the game in second place in the table, but have dropped to third after the defeat.
There were no complaints from Bonagee boss Peter Moran.
“I’m disappointed because we conceded two from a whipped ball from a set-piece around the back,” he said.
“They were quicker and sharper than us. They’re a fine side and are so clinical. They punished us.
“We would hope that with a few boys back we’d be able to give them more of a game, but whoever finishes above Cockhill will be champions.
“They started something under Donal O’Brien and have kept it up. We’re hoping to get something similar moving here at Bonagee, but it will take time.”
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