'It was an unacceptable performance and it won't happen again' - Cullen

Cockhill Celtic manager Gavin Cullen vowed that the performance his side put in against Enniskillen Rangers on Saturday will not happen again, calling his side’s performance ‘unacceptable’, following their 2-0 loss in the FAI/IFA Junior President’s Cup. 

It was a game that failed to spark into any light, with the Enniskillen side opting to sit back defensively and cause damage to the Inishowen side on the counterattack.  

But Cullen was more frustrated at the lack of quality and relaxed demeanor shown by his team in Ballinamallard, something he states that he has hardly seen in all his time as Cockhill Celtic manager. 

“In fairness to Enniskillen Rangers, they worked hard on the day, they were well organised and they sat in which resulted in us probably having over 70 percent of the possession but we never laid a glove on them,” Cullen said after the game. 

“It was probably the first time in my time as manager where we went 90 minutes without creating a single chance and then to add to that, we gave away two horrendous goals which ultimately changed the landscape of the game.” 

Enniskillen’s structured defense and counterattack was ultimately what divided the sides after 25 minutes when Joel Byrne found space down the right wing after winning the ball back from a lackluster Cockhill side who were caught out of shape and struggling to get back following the breakdown of their attack, finishing with Jake Browne firing home. 

“We were so comfortable in the game it was just unreal,” Cullen said. “All of our players were often caught out of possession, that’s where the first goal came from and then we add that with some poor decision making and poor quality . . . really everything, but in fairness to Enniskillen, they did what they had to do to get the win and fair play to them. 

“Like it’s mad that there were no saves for either goalkeeper to make in 90 minutes. As I said in all my time here, I’ve never seen us create fewer chances in the game. I think we had about five corners overall, but really throughout the 90 minutes, we all know that the quality of play was unacceptable.” 

Despite it being early in the season, the result could be seen as a blessing in disguise as a way to learn early from their mistakes, but Cullen found the performance unacceptable, no matter how early the season is. 

“I just don’t think it’s really acceptable to put up a performance like that, it doesn’t matter how early in the season it is,” he said.  

“Performance wise it’s nowhere near what the players are capable of or nowhere near the standards we set for ourselves. 

“If we trained like the way we played out there, we would find it unacceptable and we would be asking questions on what’s going on. 

“Unfortunately, nobody can come away from here and say they did well which is so disappointing but it won’t happen again.”