Cup runs have ‘opened eyes’ to Donegal’s quality: Gavin Cullen

Gavin Cullen says Cockhill Celtic’s Cups surges have ‘opened eyes’ to the quality of Donegal football.

Later this month, Cockhill will face holders Rockmount in the FAI Intermediate Cup final in Sligo. This Saturday, Cockhill hist Leinster Senior League leaders St Mochta’s in the preliminary round of the FAI Senior Cup (Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds, 12.30pm).

Lee McColgan has been a regular feature in the Republic of Ireland amateur squad in the last couple of years and has been joined by Fionn McClure and Corey McBride of late.

“I have found a massive change in the mentality towards us,” Cullen told Donegal Live. “In years gone by, I would have cried and complained that our players weren’t getting a fair crack. Gerry Davis, the Ireland manager, has been onto me on a few occasions about six or seven of our players.

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“It’s brilliant for the players and brilliant for the club that they’re getting that chance. It’s a long time overdue, but maybe it has taken us getting to these stages for the eyes to open. I think it has certainly opened their eyes to the level of player here and Jack Parke (Bonagee United) has also been in there.”

McBride scored in a friendly for the Irish side and the weekend and all three Cockhill players are vying for inclusion in a squad for a tournament in Spain this summer.

Cockhill have won nine Ulster Senior League titles in a row and are gunning for a tenth over the coming weeks.

Cup exploits will take centre stage, though.

Last year, Bonagee hosted League of Ireland Premier Division side Shelbourne and had a capacity crowd for the visit of the Damien Duff-managed Reds to Dry Arch Park.

“These are the games you want to be in,” Cullen said. “This is the sixth time we have been in this. We’ve had UCD, Limerick and Longford before. It’s great for the players and the club to be at this level and have this opportunity. It would be brilliant to get through and draw one of the top clubs.”

Long-term injury victims Adam Duffy and Paddy Slevin are sidelined, but Cullen’s squad is otherwise in fine fettle.

On Sunday, Garbhan Friel netted a hat-trick in a come-from-behind 3-1 away win at Derry City Reserves in the USL. The title race is finely poised, with four points between Cockhill and leaders Bonagee, who have played a game more.

They went behind in the Brandywell, but impressively toppled a Derry side that included first-teamers Tadhg Ryan, Ronan Boyce, Evan McLaughlin and Matt Ward.

Cullen said: “It was a great test. It was probably the best game in USL this season to watch and we came through it with flying colours.”

St Mochta’s and Cockhill are no strangers. Two years ago, Friel fired Cockhill ahead in this round, but the Dubliner won 2-1 after extra time. In 2015, two Gerry Gill penalties, sandwiching another goal by Matthew Henry, gave Cockhill a 3-0 win, while St Mochta’s previously had the upper hand in two Intermediate Cup ties.

The build-up for the Intermediate Cup final will gather pace from next week with media events and launches, but Cullen insists focus won’t be a problem.

The former Finn Harps goalkeeper said: “Our biggest issue is that we have so many games in a short space of time. Momentum is always something that killed us for the intermediate. Next Friday, we’ll play Letterkenny Rovers and they’re finished the season while we have maybe seven or eight games left.

“There’s a lot of activity for the lads, but there is a focus in the group. We’re all in it together and they’re showing a good appetite. There is competition for places and everyone has the belief that they could and should play.”