Cockhill aiming to be FAI Cup giant killers against Bray Wanderers - Doherty 

Peter Doherty admits the future of this group of Cockhill Celtic players had looked uncertain,  but the experienced defender says the fall of the Ulster Senior League doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the end. 

With confirmation finally arriving that the plug is to be pulled on the USL, the Inishowen giants sign off there as ‘ten-in-a-row’ kingpins. 

The 2022/23 FAI Intermediate Cup finalists will now play in the Jackie Crossan Premier Division of the Inishowen League while Cockhill Youths, who were in the top flight of the Inishowen League last season, will now go to Division One.

Doherty, an ever present during that decade of dominance, admits it’s a hammer blow for the club. But, he says, the news didn’t come as a surprise when it finally did land. 

“It was a huge blow, without a doubt,” he told the Inish Times. “It’s really sad to see it go. It’s a step back, a step in the wrong direction. Not just for ourselves  but the likes of Bonagee and Letterkenny Rovers as well.

“I also think Finn Harps and Derry will see an effect as it was a great standard for both those teams to blood young players at senior level. 

“But we just have to focus now on the Inishowen League and continue to do everything as professional and as well as we have been doing”. 

League of Ireland heavyweights and two-time FAI Cup winners Bray Wanderers come to the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Ground this Saturday. 

A home FAI Cup opener is a huge occasion at the best of times but for obvious reasons, Doherty admits emotions will be running high when he and his teammates take to the field at the weekend.  

“Emotions will be high but I think we know where we’re at as a group because we have talked it out. Looking at Bonagee, a lot of their players have already left. 

“But the general feeling, and from talking to the lads here, I’ve a good feeling this group is prepared to stay together for the season ahead. We’ve talked about it and Gavin has reiterated nothing is going to change. 

“And that was a big  thing after all the uncertainty. So the hope is that we keep the group together and that certainly is the plan at this moment”

Cockhill’s last competitive outing was their 2-0 USL clinching win over Derry City reserves back in mid May but Gavin Cullen’s side have looked to retain that sharpness with a number of friendly outings in between. 

With the visit of Bray circled on the calendar since early June, Cullen will have had plenty of time to take a good look at the Wicklow outfit. 

Indeed, both he and assistant Gerard McLaughlin were very interested spectators when Wanderers drew 0-0 with Finn Harps in Ballybofey a fortnight ago. 

“We’re excited and I think it was a great draw for ourselves,” Doherty explained. “Compared to what we got last season, UCD away, it’s better. That’s not taking anything away from Bray. It’s just that we’re at home - that’s huge. 

“The only thing that’s probably not ideal is the actual timing of it. We’re out of season and we’ve had to source friendly matches to bridge the gap. We’d Strabane on Friday night and we also played the likes of Dergview, Limavady and Institute.

“Gavin has had a really good look at Bray and I’m sure they’ve done their homework on us. It’s just a matter now of waiting for Saturday to come around. I’m hoping we’ll get a really good crowd as that could make a real difference. 

“We’re gearing up for a big crowd anyways so hopefully they’ll make plenty of noise and really get behind us”.