AARON ROGAN’S TENURE as manager of Swilly Rovers got off to a losing start when favourites Cockhill Celtic left Ramelton with the points in Group A.
Swilly Rovers 1-3 Cockhill Celtic
The visitors scored two goals in a minute midway through the first half and added a third 15 minutes into the second period to kill this contest.
Swilly started with five debutants and they held their own in the opening 20 minutes with JP McColgan in the Swilly goals saving from Paul McKinney.
Gavin Cullen’s team were awarded a disputed penalty on 25 minutes when the referee decided that Derek Doherty’s cross was handled by Sean Crossan. Up stepped Garbhan Friel, who blasted to the net giving McColgan no chance.
[adrotate group=”37″]James Bradley doubled the away side’s tally when he ran unopposed inside the Swilly area and shot from eight yards to score. Swilly’s first chance came on 33 minutes when a superb cross from Daniel O’Donnell was inches away from Dylan Hegarty’s head.
Friel should have scored on 35 minutes when through on goal but shot well over the bar. The home side had two great chances in the last five minutes of the half when firstly Duncan Patterson headed against the post after a Laurence Toland corner.
Then it was the turn of young Michael Devine, who volleyed narrowly wide from six yards after Patterson put in an excellent cross.
Friel got his side’s third goal and doubled his own tally when he side-footed to the net from 12 yards after great work by Derek Doherty.
The Cockhill striker missed his hat trick when shooting wide from about three yards after Gerry Gill set him up. The physical strength and height advantage of the reigning champions made it difficult for the home side and they got a goal on 85 minutes when Devine broke through.
His shot was blocked by Cullen but the ball fell to Toland to score. On this standing, Cockhill Celtic will still be the team to beat and had Friel, Gill and Bradley as their star players. For the home side, Crossan, Toland and Johnny McGuinness were best.
[adrotate group=”70″]Swilly Rovers: JP McColgan, Duncan Patterson, Sean Crossan, Johnny McGuinness, Dylan Hegarty, Barry Mooney, Daniel O’Donnell, Sean Rogan, Michael Devine, Laurence Toland, Corey Hegarty. Subs: Marty McDaid, Shay Durning and Brad Patterson.
Cockhill Celtic: Gavin Cullen, Darren Coyle, Jason Breslin, Peter Doherty, William O’Conner, James Bradley, Derek Doherty, Gerald McLaughlin, Paul McKinney, Garbhan Friel, Gerry Gill. Subs :Johnny Havlin, Oisin McColgan, Daniel M McLaughlin, Darra McDermott and Martin McLaughlin.
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