Cockhill Celtic hold nerve to seal historic FAI Junior Cup glory

Despite being heavy favourites, the common theme running through the Cockhill Celtic club this week is that cup finals take on a life of their own. 

They expected the match to be close but nobody assumed it would be that close, as it took Garbhan Friel to nail home his side's third penalty in the shootout after 110 minutes of football to clinch a historic FAI Junior Cup win for Cockhill Celtic at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway against Gorey Rangers. 

Despite losing team captain Jimmy Bradley early in extra time due to a straight red card, it was fair to say that the Donegal club was the better side on the day and justly deserved their win on the day in the Connacht sunshine.

Within the blink of an eye of Friel nailing home his side's winning penalty, the field was invaded by a sea of green and white as 'We are the Champions' was blared across the stadium.

Emotion so high, that it made their defeat to Rockmount in the FAI Intermediate Cup final a year ago melt almost like snow as they became only the third Donegal club to win the FAI Junior Cup Cup.

It didn't come easy for them however, with Gorey gaining the upper hand early on and holding their lead for over an hour.

From the off, Cockhill were caught on the bounce . . . their backs very much against the wall.

In their first real attack of the match on eight minutes, Gorey’s Paul Brennan darted down the wing, but his attempted pass across the box was kicked out by Peter Doherty for a corner, with Kinsella’s sailing corner finding an unmarked Ryan Cullen who leaped in superb fashion to the ball but sent it just right of the post. 

In such unexpected fashion, the Wexford club would hit the lead after only 14 minutes when everyone assumed Stephen Kinsella’s 30-yard kick would be floated into the box.  

Instead, the Gorey midfielder opted for a shot, and ended up finding the back of the net in what was their first shot of the game, with the ball whizzing past Harry Doherty into the top corner of the net. 

With few chances coming the Inishowen side’s way in the opening quarter, their best attempt was from Friel who almost equalised on the 19th minute when a swinging cross found the ever-lively Friel unmarked at the back post, but his headed effort could only find the side netting. 

Cockhill reacted the better of the two sides following the opening goal when the newly crowned Inishowen champions started knocking on the door, but Gorey remained solid at the back. 

A dangerous free from Corey McBride was brilliantly cleared away by Conor Casserly. The resulting clearance found the feet of Cockhill’s Brendan McLaughlin, but a mishit easily landed into the hands of goalkeeper Cian Browne. 

The final 15 minutes of the half saw a highly intense match, but with few chance,s with both defences remaining solid and keeping the opposition attacks at bay. 

With a minute to go before the half-time break, there was uproar across the ground when a scramble for the ball from a Cockhill corner resulted in Friel getting a low shot away.  

And while the Donegal players and supporters were adamant that the ball crossed the line before it was eventually cleared, referee Tom McCarthy ruled that it was stopped on the goal line which brought the closing half to an end with the scoreline standing at 1-0 to Gorey Rangers. 

A chorus of boos from the Cockhill fans rang across Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway as the Donegal team and management marched to the dressing room demonstrating their fury and anger as they walked down the tunnel. 

Cockhill came out with renewed vigor in the second half as they did their best to frustrate the Wexford defence. 

McBride almost found the leveler within the opening minutes of the second period when he broke through the Gorey backline, but he booted high over the crossbar as he fell to his knees, hitting the ground in frustration.  

Cockhill’s hearts almost sank on 51 minutes when substitute Michael Molloy raced past three players to feed the ball out wide to Paul Brennan. The resulting effort saw Brennan fire across the goalmouth where Doherty was caught off his line, but Molloy couldn’t get to the ball on time to fire home, with the ball instead trickling out for a goal kick. 

A penalty was called moments later when Cockhill claimed that Friel was brought down in the box, but referee McCarthy waved the play on as Gorey remained in front. 

But the Cockhill side kept the attacks at large as they began to dominate possession, but were unable to find that much-needed goal. 

A neat passage of play along the ground between Lee McColgan, Friel, and McBride looked promising, as they eased past the Gorey defenders, but Luke Redden over kicked as the ball skied high and wide. 

With the Inishowen team upping their intensity, there was a feeling in the air that Cockill would eventually find their score. And that’s exactly what happened.  

From an attack out of the blue, Jay Bradley received the ball in the corner from a throw-in, the substitute was checked as he crossed into the box. The resulting effort found Oisin McColgan who flew into the air and fired off his right into the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-1 on 75 minutes. 

With Gorey’s backs to the wall, Cockhill went for the kill and nearly hit the lead after equalising. A fine chip ball into the Gorey box from Bradley found the feet of McBride, but the young striker couldn’t land his side’s second goal as he fired over. 

Friel’s best opportunity came in the final 10 minutes when he darted into the box from a corner, but his headed effort skimmed wide of the post as he aimed for the corner of the net.  

The Inishowen side pushed right to the end and would deem themselves unfortunate not to grab the winner, as the sides marched to the dressing rooms after seven minutes of injury time, with everyone in the Galway ground awaiting extra time. 

Cockhill suffered a severe blow in the opening five minutes of extra time when captain Jimmy Bradley was sent off following a challenge on Luke Greene. 

The following attack saw a long ball into the box resulting in Ethan Vickers firing two shots at goalkeeper Doherty, but the Cockhill goalkeeper was able to stand tall and keep his side in the match with two fine saves. 

It never looked like Cockhill were going to lose this one as they fought for a winner as both teams began to tire in the warm Galway weather.  

Friel looked like he was going to be the hero in the final minute with a long ball nailed into him inside the box, but he failed to control the ball as it rolled out for the final act, as the referee blew the whistle after 110 minutes of football with the final requiring penalties to determine a winner. 

It was a dream start for Gorey who has been superb in penalty shootouts this season with Lee McColgan hitting the upright in the first kick. However, Harry Doherty would save the follow-up penalty from Gorey. 

With both sides nailing their second penalties, Jack Doherty and Michael Molloy would fail to convert their team’s third spot kicks.

Jay Bradley would nail the bottom corner and give Cockhill the advantage when Luke Greene missed his follow-up, but it was Friel who was the hero as he sealed his side’s fifth penalty and sealed the FAI Junior Cup. 

Cockhill Celtic: Harry Doherty; Lee McColgan, Peter Doherty, Lee McLaughlin, Oisin McColgan; Jack Doherty, James Bradley, Brendan McLaughlin (Jack Mullen, 93); Luke Redden (Jay Bradley, 70), Garbhan Friel, Corey McBride (Conor Graham, 97).   

Gorey Rangers: Cian Browne; Conor Casserly (Seán Murphy, 87), Ryan Cullen, Glen O’Brien, Nathan Brennan; Adam Territt (Michael Molloy, 30), Gavin O’Brien, Stephen Kinsella (Luke Greene, 74), Paul Brennan; Mark Woods (Niall Keys, 86), Ethan Vickers.  

Referee: Tom McCarthy