Cockhill Celtic close to 10 titles in a row with Bonagee United needing favours

An elusive first Ulster Senior League is now out of Bonagee United's hands after a narrow defeat away to Cockhill Celtic who are close to sealing a 10th consecutive crown.

Cockhill Celtic 2-1 Bonagee United

Luke Rudden found the net twice in this encounter with his second coming from the spot as Gareth Harkin reduced the deficit in the second-half. After a tense finish, an elated Cockhill Celtic bench erupted as they now must win their final two games, against Finn Harps U-21s and Derry City Reserves.

Jason Gibson's Bonagee side have no games remaining and only a defeat for Cockhill in one of their games would see them as Champions while four points gained by Gavin Cullen's team would see the league decided by a play-off.

Cockhill Celtic started on the front foot and a couple of early chances fell their way as Corey McBride had a looping header fall just short of the target with just over ten minutes gone while strikes from Peter Doherty and Fionn McClure both went close but saw their strikes deflected wide of the mark.

Bonagee put some real pressure on the Cockhill backline as the game approached the half hour mark and one chance in particular was so close to finding the net.

Tony McNamee was one-on-one with Harry Doherty and his chipped effort looked to be bouncing in but clipped the inside of the post and rolled across the goalline before being gathered by the retreating Doherty.

Jack Parke had an effort just moments later that forced Doherty into a save while Conor Black hit the follow up but saw it blocked by Peter Doherty.

Just under 10 minutes before the interval, Cockhill broke the deadlock. After an initial corner wasn't cleared, Luke Rudden gained control of the ball on the right side of the box and he unleashed a low shot into the far corner from a narrow angle.

Moments later, Conor Black went close again but this shot met the same fate as his last with Peter Doherty in the way. With half-time just minutes away, Cockhill Celtic were awarded a penalty.

Oisin Cannon impeded Rudden in the area and the former Finn Harps man stepped up to convert the penalty into the bottom left corner. That two-goal cushion was taken into the interval and it was slim pickings in terms of chances to change that at the start of the second-half.

Enter the final 20 minutes of the game and Bonagee grabbed a lifeline. Stephen Black played the ball forward and a heavy touch from Lee McMonagle allowed Gareth Harkin the required space to take the ball beyond the last defender and rifle the ball past Harry Doherty.

During the final ten minutes of the game, the chances were free flowing and Cockhill came mightily close to wrapping things up. Corey McBride broke free down the right side and his low ball into the box required just a toe poke to take it home but Rudden was inches away from the crucial touch.

At the other end, McNamee went close to an equaliser but his free kick was punched clear by the outstretched Doherty. In the final moments of stoppage time, two big chances came within a minute of each other, with one at each end. Bonagee had the opportunity to level the game.

A race between Harry Doherty and Deano Larkin was started by a ball over the top and the latter won but his cushioned effort over the netminder bounced onto the roof of the goal, much to his disbelief.

McNamee had a curling effort saved a minute later and then came Cockhill’s chance to seal the win. Another blasted ball up front looked to be heading into the grateful grasp of Cannon but Garbhan Friel nicked in ahead of him to prod the ball towards goal but unfortunately for the striker, his effort connected faintly with the base of the post.

Bonagee threw everything forward in the dying seconds but Cockhill Celtic held on to seal an important win.

Cockhill Celtic: Harry Doherty; Lee McColgan, Fionn McClure, Peter Doherty, Jason Breslin (Oisin McColgan 80); Adam McCarron (Daniel Doherty 78), Christy McLaughlin, James Bradley, Garbhan Friel; Corey McBride, Luke Rudden (Stephen Duffy 80).
Bonagee United: Oisin Cannon; Jamie Lynagh (Darragh Ellison 68), Jack Parke, Packie Mailey (Micheál Doherty half-time) Gareth Breslin; Stephen Black, Michael Funston(Dean O'Donnell 68), Gareth Harkin, Tony McNamee; Dan O'Donnell(Lee McMonagle 57), Conor Black (Deano Larkin half-time).
Referee: Marty McGarrigle