Cockhill Celtic took a huge step towards retaining the Ulster Senior League on Sunday when they defeated second placed Fanad United 1-0 at Traigh-a-Loch.
Fanad United 0 Cockhill Celtic 1
The game was played in ideal conditions but it was a game of very few chances.
The first chance fell to Fanad after 4 minutes after Oisin McMenamin pressured Cockhill keeper Lee McCarron, the ball broke to Tony McNamee but he just failed to make a good connection with the ball from the edge of the area.
Cockhill lost the influential Laurence Toland in the 14th minute to injury but his replacement Paul McKinney was at the heart of the opening goal 10 minutes later.
When McKinney was pushed at the edge of the D, Gerry Gill stepped up to power the ball into the net.
Fanad had more possession in the second half and created a few chances.
Ten minutes into the half Davitt Walsh headed wide after a Marty McAteer cross.
On the hour mark Paddy Carr was sent through in the box but Lee McCarron spread himself well to deny him.
Five minutes later Oisin McMenamin missed a gilt edged chance to equalise when he shot wide from close range following a Tony McNamee cross.
Fanad continued to press for the remainder of the half but Cockhill held out for a vital win.
Fanad United: Dane Dunworth, Keelin McElwaine, Conor Blaney (Matthew Crossan 71), Shaun McElwaine, Oisin Langan, Jordan Toland, Marty McAteer (Darren McElwaine 63), Paddy Carr, Davitt Walsh, Tony McNamee, Oisin McMenamin
Cockhill Celtic: Lee McCarron, Paul McDermott, Jason Breslin, Peter Doherty, Oisin McColgan, Gerrard McLaughlin, Mark Moran (Marty Doherty 81), Malachy McDermott, Laurence Toland (Paul McKinney 14, Liam O’Donnell 92), Gerry Gill, Ronan Doherty (Darragh McDermott 88)
FIXTURES
Four Lanterns USL
Wednesday, May 2, 7.15pm
Letterkenny Rovers v Bonagee United
Sunday, May 6, 2pm
Cockhill Celtic v Bonagee United
Swilly Rovers v Letterkenny Rovers
| Table | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
| Cockhill Celtic | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 10 | 36 | 37 | ** | |
| Fanad United | 15 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 45 | 17 | 28 | 31 | ||
| Letterkenny Rovers | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 31 | 11 | 20 | 27 | * | |
| Finn Harps Reserves | 16 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 34 | 42 | -8 | 21 | * | |
| Derry City Reserves | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 27 | 20 | 7 | 20 | ||
| Bonagee United | 13 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 37 | -24 | 6 | ||
| Swilly Rovers | 15 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 66 | -59 | 1 | ** | |
| * Letterkenny Rovers awarded 3-0 win after Finn Harps didn’t field | ||||||||||
| ** Cockhill Celtic awarded 3-0 win after Swilly Rovers didn’t field | ||||||||||
