Evergreen Cockhill captain Jimmy Bradley eyes cup glory

In 2005, when Cockhill Celtic first dipped their toes into the Ulster Senior League, the club received a phone call.

A leading football official wondered of their decision to step up to the intermediate ranks.

“Will you be fit for it?”

The words have rung in the ears of Kara Doherty, the club secretary.

In the 18 years since, Cockhill have won ten USL titles and now want to add the FAI Intermediate Cup to their illustrious honors list.

Cockhill Celtic go in search of history

Cockhill Celtic face Rockmount from Cork in the FAI Intermediate Cup final on Sunday at the Showgrounds in Sligo.

When the final whistle sounded in Cork last month to confirm a 1-0 win over Ringmahon Rangers, emotion took over for Jimmy Bradley.

“It was a massive shock,” the Cockhill Celtic captain recalled.

“It’s probably one of the biggest shocks I’ve experienced in football, to be honest. It was emotional even. We have won a lot of Cups and Leagues, but that was the most emotion I’ve experienced with this team - even above actually winning things.”

Bradley has been on the Cockhill Celtic senior team for over 20 years now. He was part of the first squad that first played in the USL and has been an integral member all through.

He succeeded Liam O’Donnell as the club captain and will lead them out for Sunday’s final against Rockmount at The Showgrounds.

“This is an unbelievable feeling,” he said.

“Being the captain of this squad means a lot. There are a lot of captains in that dressing room and definitely boys who would do more talking than me. I don’t talk a lot before games, I just leave it to the pitch.

“The last three or four years, we’ve put a massive push for this. Everyone wants to do well in this competition. We won the League for a lot of years, but we have really wanted to do well in this.  We have been pushing further and further for this.”

In the opening round, Cockhill were down to nine men with Bradley and Adam McCarron sent off, but overcame Bonagee United 2-0 away from home.

That night at Dry Arch Park epitomised what Cockhill have become.

Bradley said: “A lot of boys turned into men that night and really stood up to be counted.

“Our heads never drop and we just keep on going. We have high standards. Gavin (Cullen, manager) expects a lot from us and we work hard for him. It works. Gavin has really stepped up to the mark. He has built on everything over the years.”

They were fit for it, alright.