O’Donnell pounces to save Cockhill Celtic arduous trip south

Striker Aidan O’Donnell saved Cockhill Celtic a 600 mile round trip to Cork for a replay as his 79th minute winner secured the Ulster Senior League champions’ passage to the second round of the FAI Senior Cup at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds on Saturday night.

Munster Senior League First Division outfit Casement Celtic made the trip north with just 13 players and short a number of regulars, and their cause wasn’t helped by the dismissal of centre half Danny Ahearn for a second booking on 63 minutes.

The hosts had dominated proceedings up to that point with defender William O’Connor coming closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half with a header off the crossbar and a shot cleared off the line.

Striker David Daly was Casement’s main threat at the other end but his opportunities were limited as Jim Power’s men finished the game with nine men after Gordon Sexton went off injured late on with both substitutes already used.

Cockhill were short a number of regulars themselves with FAI Intermediate Player of the Year Malachy McDermott and top goalscorer Gerry Gill both absent as they bossed possession but lacked a cutting edge in front on goal.

A set piece looked their likeliest source of a breakthrough before the interval as O’Connor’s chances came from a corner and free in respectively.

Daly’s high energy pressing and quick feet marked him out as one to watch for the visitors from early on and he came close to breaking the deadlock on 20 minutes when he cut inside from the right but his shot from 12 yards lacked the power to trouble Cullen in the Cockhill goal.

Donal O’Brien’s side started the second half at a higher tempo as O’Donnell twice came close to opening the scoring before the striker finally guided home an O’Connor ball into the box on the volley for the all important lead goal.

The home side had their chances of an insurance strike as Casement ‘keeper Darren Haines denied substitute Christy McLaughlin with a finger tip save from a free kick before coming off his line smartly to deny O’Donnell in added time.

While Cockhill will be disappointed they didn’t put this game to bed in the second half, the performance is secondary to the result which could give them another crack at League of Ireland opposition in the next round.

Final Score - Cockhill Celtic 1 Casement Celtic 0

COCKHILL: Gavin Cullen, Liam O’Donnell, Peter Doherty, Gerard McLaughlin, William O’Connor, Matty Henry, Ryan Varma, Derek Doherty (Christy McLaughlin 51 mins), Aidan O’Donnell, Paul McKinney (Martin Doherty 87 mins), Bradley

Scorer: Aidan O’Donnell (79 mins)

CASEMENT: Darren Haines, Alan O’Sullivan, Gordon Sexton, Danny Ahearn, Trevor Daly, Kevin O’Sullivan (Denis Lyne 70 mins), David Murray, Richard Bhanaker (John Kelliher 45 mins), Trevor Daly, Paul Geaney, Stephen Mulrine

Booked: Ahearn 60, 63

REFEREE: Packie Coll (Donegal)