Cockhill Celtic and Buncrana Hearts both chase last 16 FAI Junior Cup spots 

Buncrana Hearts and Cockhill Celtic are both in FAI Junior Cup action this weekend with the Inishowen heavyweights both attempting to progress onto the last 16 of the competition. 

Gary Duffy’s Buncrana will host Harding FC from Dublin  on Sunday (2pm) while Gavin Cullen’s Cockhill welcome Limerick’s Ashkeaton/Kilcornan to the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Ground the day before, Saturday, with a 1pm kick-off there.

Cullen’s side have not lost this season as they sit on top of the Jackie Crossan Premier Division with 30 points from 10 games, as well as overcoming such sides as Clonmany Shamrocks, Bonagee United, Kilmacrennan Celtic and Arlington AFC of Laois in the FAI Junior Cup. 

"Look, we had a tough game at the weekend against Carndonagh where we won 1-0, so that will boost our confidence for the weekend going into the cup match," Cullen said with regards to his side’s preparation for this weekend’s cup tie. 

However, despite their perfect record this season, the former Finn Harps goalkeeper acknowledges the unique challenges posed by cup competitions.  

"We’ve won all our games so far, we have a one hundred per cent record this season, which is great obviously. The only thing unfortunate about playing in this competition is you might not know an awful lot about the opposition.  

“I suppose the only thing we know is that football in Limerick is quite strong, so we’re expecting a tough game against Ashkeaton/Kilcornan.” 

Cockhill’s participation in junior football came as a result of circumstances beyond their control, with the disbandment of the Ulster Senior League last season in which Cullen’s side had won 10 leagues in-a-row, before dropping to the Inishowen League this season. 

"Nobody wants to drop down to junior football, but it’s all we could do. It was the best level of football available to us,” said Cullen. 

“It took a while to adjust to this league and get player’s heads around it in terms of mentality, but now we’re just treating it like a normal season and aiming to win every game and win trophies. 

“It was unfortunate the way the Ulster Senior League folded. I think there was a lack of support from the FAI. In my own opinion there were too many factions within the north-west, people weren’t pulling together.  

“Hopefully, in the future, it will come back, but at the minute we’re happy where we’re at.” 

Cullen’s confidence in the team's strength and depth this season before their Limerick challenge is evident, even after the departure of key players from the previous season where his side lost 4-3 on penalties to Rockmount in the FAI Intermediate Cup final last April.  

"It might be hard to believe but since we lost to Rockmount last year, the team has probably got stronger," Cullen remarked.  

“Okay, we’ve lost about five or six players like Fionn McClure, Christy Fildara, Jason Breslin, Stephen Duffy and Adam McCarron, but we added players since then, like Jack Doherty and Brendan McLaughlin from Finn Harps who is excellent. So, we have a lot of strength and depth this year. 

“The only blemish so far is that Lee McColgan got suspended in the last Cup game, but it wouldn’t have made a difference anyway because he actually got injured, so, other than that, it’s all looking positive for the weekend. We just need a result now”. 

As Cockhill Celtic prepares for another crucial encounter in the FAI Junior Cup, the manager's confidence, coupled with the team's impressive record and resilience, paints a picture of a side poised to go the distance in pursuit of glory. 

“I know people are saying we’re the bookmaker’s favorites for the competition, but I wouldn't read too much into that. We’re just taking it one game at a time as they say. But we do know that it will take a very good side to beat us.”