Posted online: Aug 31st, 2010

Ulster Senior League Cup Final

By Gary Ferry

Sports Reporter

ALL eyes will be on Leckview Park in Letterkenny this Sunday as Cockhill Celtic take on Derry City in the Ulster Senior League Cup Final. Kick off 5pm.

It is the final that all local football fans wanted to see as Ulster Senior League leaders Celtic take on a  multi-talented Derry City side in a final that is sure to live up to expectations.

Celtic are a team on fire at present and they raced to the top of the USL with a 4-1 demolition of Buncrana Hearts at the weekend where they sit one point clear of Letterkenny Rovers with just three weeks remaining.

But for now, the race for the league title has taken a back seat as Cockhill prepare for Sunday’s final, and manager Donal O’ Brien insists that his team have a tough task ahead of them.

 “We know we have a tough game but we have to go out and enjoy it,” he told the Inish Times.  “We are in good form and we can leave the league behind us but we are playing Derry City, who in my opinion, are the best footballing side in the league. What John Quigg and Hugh Harkin are doing is great. I don’t think I’ve seen a better second team in my life and of course if you have a great second team you’re going to have a great first team.”

Derry City manager John Quigg has already overseen a victory over Cockhill this season, with the league encounter finishing 2-1 in favour of the Candy Stripes. But Quigg admitted the game proved there is nothing between the two sides.

“At the minute, Cockhill are the best team in the league because they are top but we feel we can give anyone a game. We have won our last six games and Cockhill have won their last six so it will be a tight game. We neat them in the league but that game could have gone either way.

“But we have reached the final of the Foyle Cup, the final of the Pat Harkin, this final and we are in the semi-finals of the Knockalla Cup, so the boys are doing well. Derry City is a part time club but these boys are training three or four nights a week. They are putting in the work and they are seeing the rewards now.”

O’ Brien has a full strength squad to choose from ahead of the final with Jimmy Bradley expected to shrug off an injury he picked up against Buncrana at the weekend. And O’ Brien is confident that his side can do the job against the Candy Stripes.

“It will be a big test for us,” he admitted.

“It’s not a do or die game but we have to go out and enjoy it and play the way we can. Derry like to play football and we like to play football and whoever turns up and whoever takes their chances will win. It’s even stevens between two good footballing sides.”