'Being favourites doesn’t mean an awful lot to us' - Cockhill's Gerard McLaughlin

Cockhill Celtic’s assistant manager Gerard McLaughlin has praised his team for their superb performance in the FAI Junior Cup where, on Saturday, they secured a facile 5-0 victory over Limerick-based Askeaton-Kilcornan.  

Despite the defeat in the FAI Intermediate Cup Final against Rockmount on penalties last April, Cockhill Celtic displayed no signs of complacency as they moved forward to the last 16 of the competition. 

“It was a good win. It was one of those games you might go in as big favourites, but you don’t really know what you’re up against until you actually play them,” McLaughlin said of Saturday’s match. 

“It’s fair to say we didn’t really shine in the first half, but in the second half, we were really good. I think we deserved to win, and we did, which is the main thing.” 

Leading 1-0 at half time from a Garbhan Friel header, the Inishowen Premier Division side dominated proceedings in the second half, with goals coming from Adam McLaughlin, Jason Breslin, Liam Grant and Luke Rudden.  

However, McLaughlin, who is assistant to manager Gavin Cullen, is not letting his side get ahead of themselves, despite holding the favourite tag in this Cup competition.  

“Us being favourites, it doesn’t mean an awful lot to us,” said McLaughlin.  

“Like there’s a long way to go, we’re still only in the last 16 of this competition. You need that bit of luck to go and win the Cup too. It’s never a foregone conclusion that we will win it. But we’re happy where we are at the minute. 

“Our lads have a lot of experience in Cup competitions. Last year we were in the Intermediate Cup final and this year we’re now at junior level. So, what we’ve done in the past is really standing to us. 

“Looking at the game, the opposition drove up from Limerick that day. They left at 6am, so, I think it was always going to be inevitable that they would tire. Thankfully they did. When you’re doing that sort of travelling and going to play a game, it’s not stacked in your favour.” 

Despite Cockhill Celtic flying high this season in the junior league, McLaughlin notes that past experiences of his side winning 10 Ulster Senior Leagues in-a-row is keeping them above the rest of the sides in the league. 

“Listen, it’s a good season this year. We’re playing junior football. Now to be honest, we don’t want to be playing junior football. Realistically we’re an intermediate club, and I mean that with no disrespect to the junior leagues,” said McLaughlin. 

“Like it is what it is. We’re still enjoying our football, and we’re enjoying winning games and advancing in competitions. We’re undefeated in the league at the minute, so, long may that last.”