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.”

Cockhill Celtic 4

Buncrana Hearts 1

In this highly eventful game in front of a huge crowd at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds it was the home side who claimed all three points to move top of the Ulster Senior League.

The opening was frantic as both teams took a little time to settle, on six minutes Cockhill’s Garbhain Friel made room in the box only to shoot wide into the side netting with other options available. 

Hearts had the advantage of a stiff breeze in the first half but on 9 minutes it was the home side who took the lead. Jimmy Bradley found space in his own half before playing a ball in behind the Hearts defence, where Mark Moran showed strength and pace to get past Gary Duffy and race inside the box to square for Malachy McDermott who side-footed into the net from eight yards past the unlucky Lee McFadden who managed to get a hand on it.

Hearts produced their first chance of note after 25 minutes when Patrick McMyler found space at right back to play a good ball into the box only for the unmarked Johnny McCarron to head over from ten yards when well placed.

Hearts now started to pile on more pressure to force an equaliser and on 38 minutes they were awarded a free when Barry McColgan was adjudged to have brought down Gerard McLaughlin. Cutliffe took the free from 22 yards and with the aid of a deflection, off the wall, was bound for the net only for Cockhill keeper Stephen Conroy to produce a wonder save to tip it over the bar.

Buncrana got back on level terms on the stroke off half time when John O’Loughlin played a ball over the defence to the feet of Cutliffe inside the box, the strike made room to shot high to the net from eight yards and the teams went in at the break all square at 1-1

Cockhill spurned a great chance to take the lead on 67 minutes when a free by Gerry Gill on the corner of the 18yard box was not held by McFadden but McKinney’s shot from 6 yards hit the post and back to the keepers thankful arms.

On 80 minutes Gill found space on the right wing for Cockhill and as he wriggled his way past Barry McFadden produced a great cross to the back post for captain Liam O’Donnell to power a header home from eight yards to send the Cockhill section of the large crowd into a loud roar of celebration that was matched by the jubilant players.

The visitors restarted the game reduced to ten men as Cutliffe got his marching orders after some words to the referee. Hearts changed things again and went with a 3-4-2 formation to try salvage something from the game but this created more problems.

n 84 minutes they were cut open like a knife through butter as Kieran McLaughlin picked the ball up in the home defence before combining well with Paul McKinney on the wing. McLaughlin advanced with the ball at his feet into the Hearts half and after another 1-2 on the edge of the visitors area with Garbhain Friel produced a cool finish low to the keepers bottom right hand corner.

3-1 up at this stage the home side started to play the ball around with ease and the Hearts players looked tired.

Cockhill wrapped things up on 88 minutes when a ball over the top caught the Hearts defence high and Aiden O’Donnell raced through to lob the keeper from just outside the area. Hearts tried to get something late in the game but the home defence stood firm. A good and entertaining derby game played in good conditions before a large crowd. The 4-1 score after a tight opening period gave the home side a deserved victory (third win over Buncrana this season) to move them a point clear of Letterkenny in the title race although Rovers having a game in hand. A good team performance from Cockhill with McMyler and Timlin showing well for the visitors.

An understrength visitors maintained their fight for the premier division title with this hard earned win over a QPS side who failed to convert a lot of chances.

The home side started well with Paul Grant’s corner headed wide by Barry McColgan before McColgan’s cross found Seanan McColgan but his effort was blocked behind for a corner.

From the corner Donny Bell was well placed but headed wide.

Midway through the half Redcastle replied when a corner broke to Stephen Davenport who fired wide from the edge of the area.

Kevin Wallace then fired just wide after good work by Sean Harkin and Terry McColgan.

On 39 minutes they spurned a great opportunity when Bell was upended but Barry McColgan’s effort clipped the outside of the post.

Before the interval Grant’s cross was only partially cleared allowing Raymond Buchanan to fire just over.

On the hour mark Terry McColgan found Buchanan but he hit the side netting.

Redcastle broke the deadlock on 66 minutes when Marty McNutt’s free found the unmarked Martin Farren at the back post and he headed home.

Paul Doherty then crossed from the left but Joe Doherty volleyed over before McNutt’s twenty yards effort was well saved by Mark Duffy.

The Point had the last chance late on when Grants’ corner was met McColgan’s head, but it went over, and with it went Quigley’s Points slender hopes of landing the title.

Redcastle remain in the hunt, but can afford no slip-ups in their remaining two matches ahead of the inevitable showdown with Clonmany.

Gleneely Colts will go into this weekend’s crunch game with Glengad United knowing that nothing short of a victory will do in their bid to win the Strand Hotel First Division, and promotion to the premier division.

Having already clashed twice this season, and both teams having claimed one victory each, Gleneely captain Neil Gerard Duffy is under no illusions that the match on Sunday will be very close.  

He told Inish Times Sport: “Both teams have already beaten each other once already this season and the winner on Sunday will be the team who is up for it the most.”

“The league has now come down to 90 minutes, with both Glengad and ourselves, as well as Buncrana, all having a great chance to win it”.  

Having been in this position last year, Gleneely will be determined to put last season firmly behind them.

Needing a win to secure promotion, they were cruelly denied by a last minute Cockhill equaliser in a winner-takes-all battle in Culdaff.

But Duffy says his team are determined to make up for it this time around. “Last season was disappointing but we are focussed on going one better this season and securing promotion to the premier league.”  

With Gleneely defeating Buncrana two weeks ago, and then Buncrana beating Glengad this past weekend, the destination of the First Division is too close to call, but there can be no doubting that a close encounter is in store this coming weekend.

Watching the match with breath held will be Buncrana boss Sean Doherty.

He told us: “The whole team will be down watching the game, and praying for the draw.

“Glengad are a tough team to beat on their own pitch, and it should be tight.

“Obviously a draw would be the perfect outcome for us, but we’ll settle for a Glengad win and take our chances in the play-off.”

By Mary-Anne McNulty

maryanne@inishtimes.com

It will be a proud day for everyone associated with Malin GAA club this Sunday when the official opening of the pitch takes place.

The ceremony will get under way at Connolly Park at 2.30pm, with Ulster GAA President Tom Daly and a host of dignitaries in attendence.

The feature match, between an Inishowen Select side and Donegal, will throw in at 4pm.

Club chairman Pat McLaughlin says everyone at the club is looking forward to the big day.

He said: “We’re getting the last few things ready, but other than that we’re all set to go.

“Everyone has put in so much work into the development over the last number of years, and we’re all looking forward to a great day.”

Parking restrictions will be in place, with no parking whatsoever in Millbrook Terrace.

Cars can park at the hall the Culdaff road and shuttle buses will be supplied free of charge to the ground.

Gardai will be directing traffic so please follow directions to ensure that all goes without a hitch.

Admission is ten euro.

*See the centre pages for a special eight-page Mallin pull-out.

By Neil Murray

info@inishtimes.com

Old adversaries Clonmany and Redcastle face each other at Caratra Park, Culdaff on Sunday in the final of the Credit Union Cup. 

On a high after winning the Ulster Junior Cup, Shamrocks boss Martin Cavanagh says the team are raring to go.

Fans on both sides will be hoping the match is as dramatic as last season’s final, when Clonmany beat Redcastle in a thrilling penalty shoot-out.

He told Inish Times Sport:  “It’s going to be one terrific final. Redcastle are a very good team so we’ll need to be at our very best to beat them on Sunday.”

“We beat them in the semi-final final of the Ulster Junior Cup, but that result will count for nothing on this occasion. “I’ll be without top goal-scorer Brendan Devlin as he will be on holiday, but I’ve got every faith in the strikers we have.

“We’ve had a very good season so far and it’s great to be playing in showpieces like this.

“Clonmany have always prided themselves in the fact that bar one player all the other players are locals.

“Our success this season has been built on team effort rather than individual skill and that’s the way we like it.

But despite his side’s current run of form, Cavanagh is determined not to take anything for granted ahead of Sunday’s final.

He said: “It doesn’t do to be overconfident in this game and finals are notorious banana skins at the best of times. “Redcastle are a fine footballing team.

“In centre-back Martin Farren they have one of the best defenders in the league while Eamon Reddin, Joe Doherty and Eddie McIntyre having been in great form for them this term.

“We’re expecting a real test on Sunday. We’ll approach this final in a quietly confident mood and if we play to our strengths we’ll not go far wrong.

“A good Clonmany travelling support will be at Caratra Park to cheer us on and act as our twelfth-man.

“They have been simply fantastic this season and we’ll be doing our very best to win the Credit Union cup, just for them.

By Laura Glenn

laura.glenn@inishtimes.com

A Buncrana councillor has hit out at a controversial new plan by the education minister.

Councillor Daren Lalor is furious that Mary Hanafin is going ahead with a directive that will force all-Irish language primary schools to teach English from the start of the second term of junior infants.

Most schools do not introduce the language until senior infants or first class.

The minister said she believed the decision will not have a detrimental effect on the Irish language.

There are a number of Irish-language schools in Inishowen.

The peninsula’s first Irish-language secondary school opened its doors to great acclaim last year.

Councillor Lalor is a member of the parent’s committee of Gaelscoil, Buncrana and was also a founder member of the Gaelcholáiste.

He said the minister is “wrong”.

He was reacting to comments made by his party colleague, Donegal senator Pearse Doherty who said the minister was “paying lip service to consultation”.

He asked for clarification after it was revealed that a letter was sent to schools, parents organisations and teachers unions seeking consultation and proposals on the issue.

These were to be submitted by April 30.

However, Senator Doherty said the regulations “come into effect on May 1” and “there would not be enough time to take into account submissions made”.

Councillor Lalor is furious.

He said Inishowen is going through a “revival” in the language.

He said: “It really beggars belief that the minister intends to end the Irish language immersion, when here in Inishowen we are witnessing a fantastic revival of our language.

“The revival of our language here in the peninsula is down to the hard work and dedication of parents and teachers alike.

“So, if these groups are reluctant to comply with Mary Hanafin’s new regulations then surely that must send a signal to her that she may be wrong?”

The directive was prompted by a controversy at a Gaelscoil in Tralee.

Parents objected to the withdrawal of English language tuition for junior and senior infants at the school.

A subsequent report from a Department of Education inspector said the lack of tuition had a strong impact on the pupils’ English skills.

This has been greatly disputed.

Scoil Mhuire’s under 14 girls have sadly failed to make this year’s All-Ireland schools soccer final.

The Ulster champions met tough side Loreto Convent from Balbriggan at the semi-final stages in Dundalk.

And, despite a gritty performance from David Deeney’s side, they lost out in the end by four goals to one.

Mr Deeney told Inish Times Sport: “The girls are bitterly disappointed. They were playing with the wind advantage in the first half and created plenty of chances, but just couldn’t find the net.”

With the scores locked at nil-all at half time, the tough Leinster outfit were the stronger in the second period, scoring four goals to book their place in the final.

Mhuire’s Caroline Gallagher scored her side’s only goal.

Said Mr Deeney: “We’re all gutted, but the girls did themselves proud. They worked their socks off out there, but unfortunately they came up against a very good side.

“No matter what, they are the reigning Ulster champions, and they should feel proud of what they have achieved this season.”

At the time of going to press, the outcome of Scoil Mhuire boys under 14s’ semi-final against Stillorgan’s St Benildus had not been determined.  

A Buncrana primary school’s Gaelic football team is one match away from securing their first outdoor county title since 1992.

Scoil Iosagain will line out at Hibernian Park, Burt, tomorrow to face a Letterkenny school in the final of the Cumman na Bunscoil Allianz Division 1 boys’ championship.

The youngsters, coached by Maria Doherty, have played flawless football all season to secure their place in what promises to be a thrilling game.

Ms Doherty told Inish Times Sport: “We’re waiting to hear if we’ll be playing Lurgeybrack or St Columb’s from Letterkenny, but either way it’s going to be a tough game.

“The boys have done brilliantly to reach the final, as it’s usually the bigger schools who are expected to come through.”

The boys played a friendly against a Buncrana select at the Scarvey on Monday evening, and their coach says the team are now raring to go ahead of tomorrow’s 5.15pm throw-in.

She said: “They have done so well throughout the year, beating Carn to win the Inishowen title and then coming through their county semi-final against St Mary’s of Stranorlar.

“It would be fantastic to win the title, but the main thing is that everyone enjoys themselves and gives 100 percent.”

* See page 79 for a profile of the team.

Redcastle’s travel to Quigley’s Point this Sunday knowing anything less than a win will make a huge dent in their aim to land their third successive league title.

It has been a miserable few weeks for the reigning champions, who lost their sixth final in a calendar year in a 1-0 extra time defeat to Moville in the West End Cup.

What was for so long a promising season for Bryan Bell and company has turned sour very quickly, with goals drying up as quickly as the team’s confidence.

“We couldn’t hit the proverbial barn door with a banjo,” Bell told 

 Inish Times Sport.

“Against Moville we didn’t create anything but neither did they to be fair. “There seems to be a lack of confidence in the team since losing in the FAI Junior Cup. But that’s what happens when players work hard for something then it doesn’t work.

“They feel sorry for themselves. But it’s just one of those things. This is football and you live and learn.”

Sunday night’s West End final defeat was particularly hard to take as the winning goal came only seconds from the end of extra time.

“I was writing down names for the penalty shoot out when Moville scored,” Bell said.

“But to be fair, they defended for their lives. It wasn’t a great game of football by any means but I’m honestly delighted for John and Bennie, who have put a lot into their club as well.”

As things stand, Redcastle have two games in hand over leaders Clonmany and victory over Quigley’s Point on Sunday would keep the pressure on what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the season.

But Bell believes the title is Clonmany’s to lose at this late stage.

“We won’t throw in the towel,” he insisted. “We’ll do the best we can but we’ve just gone off the boil and even the most ardent Redcastle fan would admit that Clonmany are in the ascendancy.

“We could go to Quigley’s Point and get a result and then it’s onto the next game. But only Clonmany can throw it away. We’ll just try to finish as strongly as we can.”

Redcastle have several injury problems ahead of Sunday’s game with Martin Farren (toe), Eamon Redden (nose) and Paul Doherty (ribs) all doubtful.

Quigley’s Point v Redcastle, Sunday, 2pm