COCKHILL CELTIC opened up a nine-point lead at the top of the 4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League and must surely be considered to have one hand on the silverware again.
Letterkenny Rovers 1 Cockhill Celtic 2
An early own goal by Paul Boyle and a Gerard McLaughlin header, coming either side of a Darren McElwaine penalty for Rovers, move Gavin Cullen’s men into a position of real strength at the summit.
Cockhill, champions in each of the last four seasons, suffered a shock loss to Swilly Rovers last weekend and there were suggestions that perhaps they were wobbling – but those notions were put to bed here.
Cockhill almost hit the front after only ten seconds. From kick-off, Cockhill worked the ball wide to Ronan Doherty. After getting the better of a couple of Rovers defenders, Doherty curled a cracking shot just wide with goalkeeper Christopher Sweeney beaten.
[adrotate group=”53″]The champions’ purposeful start did yield an early goal, though. After just three minutes, they hit the front. Gerry Gill’s corners caused Rovers quite an amount of angst and one clipped off the head of home defender Paul Boyle for the opening goal.
Rovers, though, drew level, on 12 minutes. Ryan Lonergan and Chris Flanagan combined down the right and right-back Lonergan was needlessly clipped by Ronan Doherty.
Paul Duddy, the referee, had little option but to award a penalty and captain Darren McElwaine stepped up to slot home with Cockhill player-manager Gavin Cullen yellow carded for his protests at the decision.
Roverss saw the injured Sweeney replaced by Sean Friel on the half-hour, but both sides had chances to take the lead just before the break.
Ryan Varma was fed by Ronan Doherty’s pass but, just as he was set to pull the trigger, Conor Tourish came in with a superb covering tackle.
At the other end, Kevin McGrath and Flanagan worked the chance for Steve Okakpu-Emeka, but Cullen was out with a wonderful save to keep his side level.
Four minutes into the second half, Cockhill took the lead again. Gill’s free from the left-hand side found McLaughlin and his looping header flew past Friel.
Rovers had a great chance to get level 20 minutes from time. Boyle and Christy Connaghan did well to carve an opening for Okakpu-Emeka, but he draggged just wife,
Friel saved from Varma as Cockhill sought a killer, but the tie was in the melting pot right until the end.
Rovers had plenty of pressure without creating much in the way of chances and Cockhill defended well while always seeming dangerous on the attack, although their afternoon ended sourly with Garbhan Friel sent off, getting a second yellow card for a show of dissent towards assistant referee Marty Quinn.
Letterkenny Rovers: Christopher Sweeney, Ryan Lonergan, Ryan Gildea, Conor Tourish, Paul Boyle, Chris Flanagan, Paul McVeigh, Kevin McGrath, Darren McElwaine, Christy Connaghan, Steve Okakpu-Emeka. Subs: Sean Friel for Sweeney (42), Brian McVeigh for McGrath (72), Dean O’Donnell for Okakpu-Emeka (76).
Cockhill Celtic: Gavin Cullen, Derek Doherty, Jason Breslin, Peter Doherty, Oisin McColgan, Gerard McLaughlin, Gerry Gill, Ryan Varma, Garbhan Friel, Jimmy Bradley, Ronan Doherty.
Referee: Paul Duddy.
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