'There's been pressure on us to do well since we came to junior level' - McLaughlin

Cockhill Celtic assistant manager Gerard McLaughlin acknowledged that there has been heavy expectation weighing on his side this season in Junior football, but states that the players haven’t put a foot wrong yet as they eased to the semi-final of the FAI Junior Cup with a 2-0 win over Clonmel Celtic on Sunday. 

Last season’s FAI Intermediate Cup runners-up progressed in Tipperary thanks to goals from Jack Mullan and Luke Rudden which saw the Donegal team control large periods of the match. 

Following the match, McLaughlin told DonegalLive that winning that competition was perhaps the club’s biggest aim this season and they are over the moon to be in the position they are now in.

“To be honest, the Junior Cup has probably been our biggest aim of the season because of the way we lost the Intermediate final last year,” said McLaughlin. 

“We made it our ambition to go all out for the Junior Cup. It’s been good so far, but we know we still have a lot of work to do if we want to get our hands on that cup at the end of the season. 

“We know we have to play Limerick away in the semi-final which definitely won’t be easy, but we’ve been in big matches like this before, so we just have to get on with it and do our best.” 

Although Clonmel Celtic attempted to put up a show by applying heavy pressure to the favourites, once Cockhill got their foothold in the match it looked like there was always going to be one winner. 

“In fairness to the lads, I feel they controlled the game throughout,” said McLaughlin. “Clonmel came at us in the first 15 to 20 minutes, and we expected that. They were far fresher in being the home team, but once we settled ourselves and kept the defence tight, we just waited for the first goal, and that then drove us on. 

“Clonmel were a good side to be fair, but we were really strong defensively and I think that’s what got us over the line in the end.” 

McLaughlin adds that despite being marked as one of the leading teams in Junior football in Ireland, the assistant manager concedes that that in itself adds further pressure to his squad, one that his side have been coping with so far.  

“You know, we have to be honest, it is a step down coming from Intermediate football to Junior football, but with that comes more pressure because you’re expected to win every week, which doesn’t always happen,” the Cockhill Celtic man said.  

“So, there’s a niggling expectation there too, teams are always putting it up to us and going head over heels to beat us but so far, our lads have managed it well and we just hope that continues.”