Cockhill Celtic can’t afford any degree of complacency - Gavin Cullen

Gavin Cullen remains adamant that nothing is decided just yet as Cockhill Celtic close in on being crowned Ulster Senior League winners for a tenth consecutive season.

Prior to Sunday’s crunch 2-1 win over challengers Bonagee United, the Dry Arch outfit knew that even a draw would have secured them the title. But the Inishowen side’s win means they’ve now narrowed the gap to four points with two games left to play. 

Jason Gibson’s men must now sit, wait and hope that Cockhill slip up in those remaining contests with Finn Harps U-21s and Derry City reserves. However, Cullen insists that no one believes the job is done just yet. 

"Look, it's in our hands, I suppose it's always been in our hands to a point," he said. "We've had games to play, we've been behind. Derry and Harps aren't going to be easy. 

“Derry actually beat us earlier in the season and we also had our best result of the season up in the Brandywell. We don't know what we'll get against Derry and Harps but we do know that we'll be up against it and we'll take nothing for granted. 

"Nothing is a given. The lads are on a high at the moment but there is still nothing win at this stage."

Cockhill Celtic took a two-goal lead into the interval courtesy of a brace from Luke Rudden before Gareth Harkin pulled one back for Bonagee midway through the second-half. 

Cullen admitted that the game had a helter skelter sort of feel to it and he knew just how important that first goal would be.

"Once Bonagee pulled a goal back, you're always going to be on edge and put under pressure. We possibly rode our luck a couple of times but sometimes you need that in games of that magnitude. 

"I thought, to a man, we stood up to it and we had a few out today through injury and we did see some fatigue in the second-half but this was a fantastic result.

"We spoke about the first goal before the game. If Bonagee had scored first, they may have shut up shop but for us to score first, it kind of invited them out a little bit. 

"It was a helter skelter game, probably lacking in quality but there was no space or time given and it was a really tough game."

Cockhill Celtic suffered the agony of a penalty shootout defeat last week in the FAI Intermediate Cup Final against Rockmount AFC and it was a major disappointment. But Cullen says he was so proud of the weekend’s response to that heartbreak.

"This was massive, especially after the emotional rollercoaster of last week. It was a big occasion but we simply had to regroup because it was such an important fixture”.