The beaten teams from Sunday’s Donegal News USL League Cup semi-finals – Fanad United and Letterkenny Rovers – will go head-to-head on Thursday night in the remaining game of the Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup tie.
The sides are second (Letterkenny) and third (Fanad) respectively in the 4 Lanterns Ulster Senior League, but Cockhill Celtic’s march towards a fifth League title in a row now seems ominous.
Given that it will take a seismic shift over the next two months to remove the fingers of Gavin Cullen’s team from the League trophy and following their League Cup exits, the Knockalla remains a realistic ambition for both Arthur Lynch and Eamon McConigley.
Thursday night’s game at Triagh-A-Locha once more brings McConigley back to his former club.
Fanad are four times winners of the Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup – the last of whoch was in 2005 – while Letterkenny have three to their name, their most recent in 2015.
McConigley has recently added former Newcastle United youth Lee Toland to his squad, while goalkeeper Christopher Sweeney has rejoined the club from Gweedore Celtic.
Fanad added Eunan Kelly and Ryan Carlin to their ranks and will have left Cockhill on Sunday disappointed not to have made more of a promising first half.
When Davitt Walsh struck an equaliser on the stroke of half-time that cancelled out Gerry Gill’s opening goal, Fanad had the momentum.
But Cockhill were ruthless in the second half and won 5-2.
Letterkenny paid the price for some individual errors as they let a 2-0 lead slip in falling to a 3-2 extra time loss to Derry City Reserves at Oakland Park.
The sides know their fate now with the draw having been made for the quarter-finals and the winner of Thursday’s tie traveling to face Donegal League champions Drumoghill FC.
Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup holders Cockhill Celtic must travel to Pairc Joe to face Glenea United, Derry City Reserves will be at home to Greencastle FC and there is an all-Inishowen League clash as Clonmany Shamrocks play host to Glengad United.
The quarter-final ties are due to be played on the weekend of March 12.
Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup, quarter-final draw
Clonmany Shamrocks v Glengad
Drumoghill v Fanad United/Letterkenny Rovers
Glenea Utd v Cockhill Celtic
Derry City Res v Greencastle
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