Cockhill have the chance to return to the top of the Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League this Sunday.
Due to Cup commitments and the bad weather, it has been a month since Gavin Cullen’s men last played a League fixture – a 5-0 away win over Bonagee on January 14.
Fanad United made hay in Cockhill’s absence and Arthur Lynch’s men lead the way by three points, although Cockhill and Intermediate Cup quarter-finalists Letterkenny Rovers have games in hand.
Cockhill have lost Garbhan Friel, who had been consistently vying at the upper end of the goalscoring charts in recent years, after his emigration to Dubai while another blow arrived in the form of the transfer of Mark Coyle to Finn Harps.
A narrow 1-0 defeat to Home Farm saw the Inishowen men bow out of the Intermediate Cup and, as fate would have it, Home Farm will now visit Leckview Park on Sunday-week to face Letterkenny in the quarter-final.
Swilly have endured a difficult campaign, but last January they did shock Cockhill with an away win.
Cockhill are in League action this weekend as they have a bye from the first round of the Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup, with Cavan Town not traveling to Donegal this weekend.
Fanad have already booked their place in round two after a 2-1 win over Milford United at Traigh-A-Loch on Sunday.
Bonagee United and Clonmany Shamrocks will joust under the Dry Arch Park floodlights on Saturday evening. Tony O’Carroll’s Bonagee have also had a difficult campaign thus far, in spite of some high profile signings. And a game against Inishowen League Clonmany could be a potential banana skin.
Letterkenny Rovers face an away tie to Pairc Joe to meet defending Donegal League champions Glenea United on Sunday. Letterkenny won the Knockalla Caravans Cup last year when they defeated Glengad United 3-0 in the final.
Finn Harps Reserves are on their travels on Sunday as they head to Cootehill, while there will be an intriguing clash in Castle Park where Buncrana Hearts host Derry City Reserves.
Buncrana are managed by former Derry striker Stephen Parkhouse and are one of the leading sides in the Inishowen League Premier Division. Buncrana player Gary Duffy is the manager of the Derry City U17s and the links between the two clubs are plentiful.
RESULTS
Sunday, February 11
Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup, First Round
Fanad United 2 Milford United 1
Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League
Letterkenny Rovers P-P Swilly Rovers
Bonagee United P-P Derry City Reserves
Cockhill Celtic P-P Finn Harps Reserves
FIXTURES
Saturday, February 17
Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup, First Round, 6.30pm
Bonagee United v Clonmany Shamrocks
Sunday, February 18,
Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup, First Round, 1.30pm
Castlefin Celtic v Glengad United
Cootehill Harps v Finn Harps Reserves
Glenea United v Letterkenny Rovers
Buncrana Hearts v Derry City Reserves
Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League, 2pm
Cockhill Celtic v Swilly Rovers
