GAVIN CULLEN, Cockhill Celtic’s manager, is not letting his side rest on their laurels despite the ever-widening gap at the top of the 4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League.
A 2-1 win over Fanad United at Triagh-A-Loch on Sunday opened up a five-point gap, with Cockhill having a game in a hand – which they play this Sunday against Finn Harps Reserves.
The four-in-a-row champions are a real force and already look likely winners again.
For Cullen, though, it was business as usual after extending their fine start.
“It’s another three points,” the former Finn Harps goalkeeper said.
“We’ll have to approach the Harps game in the right manner.
“Harps are well improved and Joe Boyle will have them well set up for the game.
“I think we do deserve to be in the position we’re in, but there is improvement. It’s a tight League and teams are taking points off each other, but that will change.
“It’s been to our advantage so far because we’ve been consistently good.
“That Fanad team will be thereabouts, Letterkenny are quality, Harps and Derry will come strong and use first-team players. It’s too early to be looking at it. That’s only maybe a third of the season gone for us.
“Points on the board are always an advantage. You always like to have it in the bag. You can’t ask for much more, we’ve only dropped two points all year and we’ve had a great start.”
Garbhán Friel and Gerry Gill netted the goals for Cockhill in Fanad to put them 2-0 ahead with John McGarvey’s injury time goal scant consolation for the home side.
Cullen said: “It’s the most difficult place in the League to get a result, there are no two ways about that. There aren’t many teams who’ll get three points down here.
“I felt that three points here would leave us in a nice position and we got that. We did it very well. We battled. For a young, footballing side, we showed the ugly side as well. I’m very proud of the players for that.”
RESULTS
Friday
Bonagee United 3 Swilly Rovers 0
Sunday
Derry City Reserves 2 Letterkenny Rovers 3
Fanad United 1 Cockhill Celtic 2
FIXTURE
Sunday, December 11, 2pm
Finn Harps Reserves v Cockhill Celtic
| USL | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
| Cockhill Celtic | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 15 | 16 |
| Fanad United | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 11 |
| Letterkenny Rovers | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 10 |
| Bonagee United | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 14 | -7 | 10 |
| Derry City Reserves | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 9 |
| Finn Harps Reserves | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 14 | -6 | 4 |
| Swilly Rovers | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 20 | -13 | 3 |
TOP GOALSCORERS (League only)
Cathal Farren (Derry City Reserves) 8
Darren McElwaine (Letterkenny Rovers) 6
Mark Moran (Cockhill Celtic) 5
Aaron McCready (Finn Harps Reserves) 4
Stephen Duffy (Derry City Reserves) 3
Aidan McLaughlin (Bonagee United) 3
Gerard McLaughlin (Cockhill Celtic) 3
Max Karner (Derry City Reserves) 3
FIXTURES NOTE
SUNDAY’S game between Finn Harps Reserves and Cockhill Celtic will be the final 4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League game before Christmas with action resuming again on Sunday, January 8th.
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