Cockhill Celtic powered past Derry City to move within one point of a remarkable seventh Ulster Senior League title in a row.
Cockhill Celtic 4 Derry City Reserves 0
By Chris McNulty at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds
Mark Moran, Gerry Gill, Laurence Toland and Adam McLaughlin struck the goals for Gavin Cullen’s men.
Cockhill can now seal the title on Sunday when they play Finn Harps. However, they could well be champions earlier as Letterkenny Rovers must now beat Derry City on Saturday evening or the race will be run.
Peter Doherty had an earlier header hacked clear before Cockhill hit the front on 20 minutes.
A corner by Gill, delivered from the left-hand side, ping-ponged before Moran forced home.
Burns saved from Moran’s low drive before the hone attacker turned provider for Toland, who just couldn’t get the right connection.
Derry fashioned a good opening when Jamie McDonagh’s cross picked out Reece McGilloway. Cockhill survived via a combination of Doherty and Jason Breslin.
Five minutes after the re-start, Gerard McLaughlin was inches over and Moran drew a wonder save from Kyle Burns.
The respite was only momentary and the hosts doubled the lead when Gill tucked home from Moran’s centre.
Like the old line about waiting on busses, another Cockhill goal arrived almost instantly.
Sub Daniel Martin Doherty sold a clever dummy out the left and Toland riffled home from the cross.
Late in the night, McLaughlin fired in a fourth for the hosts, who have inched ever closer to glory again.
Cockhill Celtic: Stephen Conroy, Jason Breslin, Lee McColgan, Peter Doherty, Oisin McColgan, Gerry Gill, Jimmy Bradley, Brendan McLaughlin, Gerard McLaughlin, Laurence Toland, Mark Moran. Subs: Marty Doherty for G.McLaughlin (56), Bart Wesolowski for B.McLaughlin (68), Adam McLaughlin for Moran (76), Paul McKinney for Toland (84).
Derry City Reserves: Kyle Burns, Tiarnan McGuinness, Shaun McDermott, Michael Doran, Eoin McLaughlin, Jamie McDonagh, Ronan Bouyce, Jordan Nugent, Dominic Dunne, Jack Coyle, Reece McGilloway. Subs: Michael Harris for McGilloway, Tyler Durning for McDonagh (both 57).
Referee: Vincent McLoughlin.
