Cockhill Celtic clinch Inishowen Premier Division crown with composed win over Carn

Cockhill Celtic wrapped up their second Inishowen Premier Division title in three seasons with a 2-0 win over Carn FC at the Charlie O'Donnell Sports Grounds on Sunday afternoon.
Goalless at half-time, Cockhill took the lead through Tiernan Ruddy early in the second half and were always in control thereafter, with Garbhan Friel netting the second to ease any concerns among the home support.
Manager Gavin Cullen cut a contented figure afterwards. “There’s difficult games in every league, and this is no different,” he told DonegalLive. “Down in Carn, when we won 1-0, was a tough one. We were tested that day, a real battle, and it was similar today.
“We had a lot of chances in the first half, but were a bit poor in front of goal. But once we scored in the second half, we were comfortable enough.”

Team captain Lee McLaughlin receives the Jackie Crossan Premier Division trophy from competition sponsor rep Shane Crossan

While there are a couple of veterans in the ranks, Cullen was pleased with the way his young squad went about regaining the league title they relinquished last season.
“Every game is a derby and we’re the target for a lot of teams when they play us and we have to adapt to that,” he said.
“Clonmany are good, they’re strong and very honest,” he said, referring to the second-placed Shamrocks who hung onto Cockhill's coattails throughout the season. “As are Buncrana, Aileach, Illies and the rest.
“We’ve been very good at taking those teams apart this season, a lot better than we had been last season, and that’s showing in the results and in our performances.”
With two league games remaining - against Illies Celtic and Buncrana Hearts - Cockhill have the opportunity of the rare achievement of not just going unbeaten but winning all 16 games.

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Cockhill's first big opportunity came on 11 minutes when Jay Bradley crossed from the right and Luke Rudden's header clipped the crossbar. Sustained pressure saw shots from Conor Graham and Damian Duffy blocked by a resolute Carn defence.
The game was held up midway through the half when Odhran O'Brien Daly suffered a facial injury and had to be substituted. On the half hour, a Conor Graham cross from the left was met at the near post by Rudden, but his flicked effort was turned around the post by Daniel McDaid. Minutes later, Bradley showed great pace to latch onto a ball over the top, but his shot flew narrowly over the angle. Cockhill’s pressure continued and, minutes before the break, a perfectly weighted through ball from Brendan McLaughlin found Rudden, but his attempted lob was gathered by McDaid.
Carn had been hanging on and were reduced to ten men when Mark Scott received a second yellow card just before half-time.

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The champions opened the scoring on 48 minutes after a clever pass from Rudden found the overlapping Lee McLaughlin. The team captain's cross picked out Tiernan Ruddy, who slotted low to the net from ten yards.
Home keeper Harry Doherty made his first save soon after, gathering a well-hit Cade Cooke free-kick.
Cockhill doubled their lead just before the hour mark when Rudden drove from midfield and released substitute Garbhan Friel in the inside-left channel. The striker cut inside to fire to the top corner. Midway through the half, an incisive run and pass from Lee McColgan found Rudden, but his curled effort shaved the post. Cockhill continued to press and a cross from the left by Brendan McLaughlin found Friel. Friel set up Stephen Duffy, but he went for power and fired wide.
Soon after, Duffy found himself in space at the edge of the area but shot straight at McDaid, who did well to parry Nathan McDaid's follow-up away for a corner.
The ten men of Carn could muster little in response, and referee Danny McLaughlin's full-time whistle was greeted with celebrations on the pitch and warm applause from the stand as Cockhill, on their Inishowen League swansong before departing to the new third tier of the League of Ireland in the autumn, were crowned champions.