Ulster Senior League ready for the off again as winter football returns

THE new Ulster Senior League season swings into action on Sunday with a round of fixtures in the League Cup.

There is a repeat of last season’s League Cup final at Dry Arch Park where Bonagee United host Cockhill Celtic in Group B while Derry City Reserves host Letterkenny Rovers in Group A.

Swilly Rovers complete Group A and their opening game is next Wednesday, against Derry City Reserves at Swilly Park, with Fanad United completing Group B’s line-up – and they are at home to Bonagee next Wednesday.

Six teams compete this season with the Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League season underway on Sunday September 6th.

Picture caption: Player from the six Ulster Senior League clubs, Jimmy Bradley (Cockhill Celtic), Dan O’Donnell (Letterkenny Rovers), Davitt Walsh (Fanad United), Aiden McLaughlin (Bonagee United), Conor Tourish (Derry City Reserves) and Laurence Toland (Swilly Rovers). Donegal Sport Hub will have interviews with all six clubs in the coming days.

The League returns to ‘winter football’ again this time around.

Last October, a delegate meeting of the League and its clubs saw those present vote 12-3 in favour of a return to the August-May season that was given up in 2007 when then League Chairman Eamon McConigley’s casting vote saw the USL move to summer football.

Since the big decision last year, the League has bid farewell to Drumkeen United, who have returned to the Donegal Junior League, but Fanad United have made their return having opted not to participate in the interim season.

Fanad will be under the management of Arthur Lynch, the former centre-back who won several honours as a player at Triagh-A-Locha.

Cockhill have won the League and League Cup double in each of the last three season and the new management team of Gavin Cullen, Shane Gallivan and Daniel Nolan will be attempting to keep the silverware at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds.

DONEGAL SPORT HUB WILL HAVE AUDIO PREVIEWS WITH ALL SIX CLUBS OVER THE COMING DAYS

DONEGAL NEWS ULSTER SENIOR LEAGUE CUP GROUP A

Sunday August 30^th – Derry City Reserves v Letterkenny Rovers

Wednesday September 2^nd – Swilly Rovers v Derry City Reserves

Sunday September 13^th – Swilly Rovers v Letterkenny Rovers

DONEGAL NEWS ULSTER SENIOR LEAGUE CUP GROUP B

Sunday August 30^th – Bonagee United v Cockhill Celtic

Wednesday September 1st – Fanad United v Bonagee United (in Bonagee)

Sunday September 13^th – Cockhill Celtic v Fanad United