GAVIN CULLEN has called on junior teams in the Inishowen and Donegal Leagues to ‘get out of their comfort zones’.
Cockhill Celtic player-manager Cullen (pictured above by Stephen Doherty) is praying for the survival of the Ulster Senior League.
The former Finn Harps goalkeeper believes that the top teams in the local junior ranks should make the step into the intermediate grade.
The besieged USL has seen its numbers fall to just six participating teams this season and there are real fears for its future.
The likes of KIldrum Tigers, Buncrana Hearts, Drumkeen United, Killea FC, Glenea United, Keadue Rovers, Convoy Arsenal, Quigley’s Point Swifts and Finn Harps Reserves have all withdrawn from the USL in recent years.
Cockhill, winners of the last three USL titles, lead the way again this season, which could be the last of the USL as we know it.
While the possibility of inviting new entrants from outside of Donegal has been mooted, nothing has come of those talks.
Only Cockhill, Letterkenny Rovers, Derry City Reserves, Bonagee United, Swilly Rovers and Fanad United are left standing and the general feeling seems to be that it can’t continue in its current guise.
“There are a lot of good players and good clubs in the Inishowen and Donegal Leagues who should be in intermediate football,” Cullen said.
“It’s a big bone of contention with me that people and clubs aren’t pushing themselves on and trying themselves at a higher standard.
“The talent pool is there and the players are there. It would be a huge help for Finn Harps and Derry City if teams would take a wee chance. Look at the squads from the recent Harps-Derry game; there must have been 10 or 12 players in that game who came through the Ulster Senior League.”
Cockhill joined the USL after winning the Inishowen League in the 2004/05 season and have won the League four times. They scooped their first crown in 2010 and have now won three-in-a-row.
“I think the big problem in Donegal is that there are too many teams and players have access too easily to playing games,” Cullen said.
“What’s letting us down too is defeatist attitudes and people are in a wee comfort zone.
“But there are definitely too many teams. Cockhill had four men’s teams until this year when we changed to three. We decided to go down to three to get more competition within the club.
“Take our three men’s teams and you have a couple each at Buncrana, Illies, Aileach and Dunree, all in about a five-mile radius. That’s only one area as an example.”
Cockhill face Finn Harps on Tuesday night at Finn Park in the EA Sports Cup, having played Harps, Mervue United and Galway United in recent seasons in the competition.
“We’ve been very lucky at Cockhill to get a chance to play these senior teams at a point in the season,” Cullen said. “It’s a great challenge and a great day out for the club itself. If we don’t save intermediate football in Donegal, we’ll lose these occasions.”
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