Bonagee United look to upset the odds in USL title showdown

Bonagee United have a chance to snatch the bmcsports.ie Ulster Senior League title from nine-in-a-row champions Cockhill Celtic on Sunday.

The sides meet at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds on Sunday (kick-off 2pm) and it’s do-or-die for Bonagee.

It’s the last game of the League season for Bonagee, who will take the prize if they manage to avoid defeat.

“It really is a cup final,” Gibson told Donegal Live. “Our lads are well used to cup finals over the last couple of seasons. I don’t think the size of the game will get to them. “

Cockhill Celtic put USL title on the line

Gavin Cullen's men suffered an agonising defeat to Rockmount in Sunday's FAI Intermediate Cup final and now defend their USL title against League rivals Bonagee United

Bonagee have won five cup competitions since Gibson’s arrival as manager, but the USL has eluded them.

Cockhill have been serial winners and still remain in a good position to make it ten-in-a-row.

Gibson said: “They’re not champions for no reason. it’s always difficult going down there. The games have been tight this year.

“The games are always fine margins with teams cancelling each other out and it will come down to the bounce of a ball.

“The first goal is important. There aren’t too many times in games between us where the lead has been turned over.

“The games against us are normally split and last season Cockhill had their business done elsewhere, which meant we didn;’t get a chance. We’re happy we have the chance now.

“At the end of the day if we had been offered this we’d have taken it.”

Micheal Doherty, Gareth Harkin and Gareth Breslin are injury doubts for the Bonagee manager. Momentum has been hard to come by this season, particularly since the turn of the calendar.

Gibson double jobs as the USL Chairperson and says his men are in good fettle ahead of the big showdown.

He said: “Preparation has been okay. We played two games in five days about a fortnight ago and before that our last game was St Patrick’s Day.

“On average we’ve played only one game every two weeks since Christmas but the boys have kept motivated. There are difficulties in the League we’re in and games can be midweek to suit other teams, but the boys have stayed with it and kept focussed.

“Whatever we go with on Sunday - and we have big decisions to make - we’ll have a strong team out.”

The Dry Arch Park club have never won the USL, but have been turned into contenders since Gibson took the reigns in 2018.

A pair of damaging defeats rocked their chances last season and while late equalisers were shipped against Cockhill and Finn Harps Under-21s, Gibson’s side are in the box seat.

He said: “We have never won the USL before and the Cup runs last year were good, the Shelbourne game in the FAI Senior Cup was brilliant for the club, but the League is the one you want. Everyone always sets out to win the League - it’s the bread and butter. All things considered we have done well

“This has been a process for us over the last few years and would love to try to get that League title.”