Ollie Horgan cautious ahead of ‘nightmare’ Cup tie with Cockhill Celtic

OLLIE HORGAN recalls a time from his Fanad United days when they recorded an emphatic 8-1 win over Cockhill Celtic.

Horgan comes face-to-face with Cockhill again tomorrow night when his Finn Harps take on the three-in-a-row Ulster Senior League champions at Finn Park in the first round of the EA Sports Cup.

Horgan knows Cockhill well from his time managing in the Ulster Senior League.

Horgan guided Fanad to a play-off win over Cockhill in 2011, when Seamus ‘Coshia’ Friel headed the only goal of the game at Dry Arch Park.

That goal sealed the last of Fanad’s record haul of 14 USL titles.

Cockhill had been champions in 2010 and have won the double in each of the last three seasons so Horgan is well aware of what lies in store for his Harps side tomorrow night.

“They are a decent side now, more than a decent side actually and this one will be tight,” Horgan said.

“These are always great games for the Ulster Senior League team. Cockhill Celtic will be wired to the moon for this game.

“I have been in the position of managing Fanad United against Finn Harps before and I know what it means to the Ulster Senior League teams.

“We will have to match Cockhill’s commitment, their effort and their passion.”

Horgan won’t risk Dave Scully (pictured above by Gary Foy), who picked up a slight groin injury in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Sligo Rovers while Packie Mailey is another set to be rested.

Horgan added: “Cockhil have been good champions. I remember giving them an awful beating, 8-1, at a stage with Fanad, but they stuck together. This is by and large the same ground of boys now.

“They’re more experienced and obviously better all-round.

“They have a great bond, a great spirit in Cockhill. They’re extremely fit and well organised so it’s a bit of a nightmare game for us.

“The likes of Gavin Cullen, Gerry Gill, Garbhan Friel, Malachy McDermott and Jimmy Bradley are all capable of playing in the League of Ireland. Throw in the commitment and the togetherness that they have, it won’t be easy.”

Horgan remains without long-term injury victims Michael Rafter, Josh Mailey, Sean Houston and Barry Molloy.

Harps received confirmation this morning that the result of Saturday’s game will stand after the game was abandoned in the 86^th minute following partial floodlight failure at The Showgrounds.

Horgan said: “Common sense has prevailed with that one.

“If we had played on and we had picked up another injury, I couldn’t live with myself.”