There will be a new name on the famous FAI Junior Cup on Sunday as Cockhill Celtic take on Gorey Rangers at Eamonn Deacy Park, with kick-off at 2pm.
It has been a dramatic run to the final for both sides, especially for Wexford's Gorey Rangers, who came through two penalty shoot-outs against Peake Villa and Villa FC in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively.
Cockhill Celtic came through a stern Pike Rovers test in the semi-finals but have only conceded one goal on the run to the final as they look to keep that defensive run going on Sunday.
Match Details
Fixture: Cockhill Celtic vs. Gorey Rangers
Competition: FAI Junior Cup Final
Date: Sunday, May 5
Kick-off: 2pm
TV: Live on FAI TV YouTube: https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/jmObCoVMmirL1A7sO1sW-?domain=youtube.com
Tickets: are available at the gate
Match Officials
Referee: Tom McCarthy
Assistant Referee 1: J.P. Grey
Assistant Referee 2: Finn O'Sullivan
Fourth Official: Alan McDonagh
Cockhill Celtic: Path to the Final
Round 1: Cockhill Celtic 5-1 Clonmany Shamrocks FC
Round 2: Bonagee United 0-4 Cockhill Celtic
Round 3: Kilmacrennan Celtic 0-4 Cockhill Celtic
Round 4: Arlington AFC 0-3 Cockhill Celtic
Round 5: Cockhill Celtic 5-0 Askeaton/Kilcornan AFC
Round 6: Cockhill Celtic FC 4-0, Maree/Oranmore FC
Quarter-Finals: Clonmel Celtic 0-2 Cockhill Celtic
Semi-Finals: Pike Rovers 0-1 Cockhill Celtic
Gorey Rangers: Path to the Final
Round 1: Gorey Rangers 3-0 Killeshin FC
Round 2: Ormonde Villa FC 0-1 Gorey Rangers
Round 3: Freebooters AFC 1-2 Gorey Rangers
Round 4: Enniskerry YC 0-2 Gorey Rangers
Round 5: Gorey Rangers 1-0 East Wall Bessborough FC
Round 6: Gorey Rangers 6-1 Tallaght United FC
Quarter-Finals: Gorey Rangers 3-0 (pens) Peake Villa FC
Semi-Finals: Gorey Rangers 4-1 (pens) Villa FC
Manager Interview | Cockhill Celtic manager Gavin Cullen
"Good level of consistency across cup competitions, which we're delighted with, I suppose you don't see that often. The players have been fairly good and fairly focused to get to this level of competition this year," said Cullen.
"We're fairly confident in most games we go into. We've got a lot of belief in our players, in the entire squad and the way we play. Going to Pike Rovers in the semi-final is a difficult task but to get a win against a team like that in this competition is going to give plenty of confidence.
"It was a tight match, in fairness but I thought we did really well and deserved the 1-0 victory, could have gotten a few more, but to come through a test like that is great on the run to the final."
Captain Interview | Cockhill Celtic skipper Peter Doherty
"Really excited, really looking forward to it now because it has been some build-up since the semi-final against Pike and feels like everyone is talking about it," said Doherty.
"It's hard to put a finger on exactly what we took from the day; it was massively disappointing for sure and feel we missed an opportunity, We should have won it on the day but that disappointment has really given us a hunger to get back to that stage of a national competition again.
"It's great that we've been able to do it so quickly in the Junior Cup this year, which is a tough competition so that stands to the players."
"We've got a lot of belief in our players, in the entire squad and the way we play..."@CockhillCeltic manager Gavin Cullen has praised his players after reaching the FAI Junior Cup final where they play @GoreyRangers đź‘Ť
đź“Ť | Eamonn Deacy Park
đź“… | Sunday
⌚️ | KO 2pm pic.twitter.com/TP3ZVE42Jr— FAIreland (@FAIreland) May 3, 2024
Captain Interview: Gorey Rangers skipper Gavin O'Brien
"This is my first final, and I'm really looking forward to it. I was beaten in the semi-finals last year and really didn't think we'd get a chance to get to a final again this year so now we're here, we're really looking forward to it," said O'Brien.
"In the semi-final, we conceded with four minutes to go in the game so to go straight up the other end and get the equaliser and bring it to penalties shows it was tough but we came through it.
"No-one gave us a chance going into the semi-final; everyone was talking about Villa so to beat them gives us a real lift going into Sunday, where we'll be the underdogs again."
Manager Interview | Gorey Rangers manager William Peare
"It's absolutely crazy at the moment; I can't wait for Sunday now, The whole town is going crazy for it and it feels like everyone will be going to the match as well so it is great to have such a good buzz around the place," said Peare.
"You'd always have expectations at the start of every season but getting to the semi-final last year and winning the league, I knew we'd be strong and that we could keep going and going.
"To get to the semi-final this year and play Villa FC, who were the No. 1 favourites for the competition, and then beat them was great so now we're through to the final and it is unreal for everyone involved."
Cockhill Celitc Squad List
Goalkeepers: Harry Doherty, Gavin Cullen
Defenders: Odhran O’Brien Daly, Jason Breslin, Lee McColgan, Oisin McColgan, Lee McLaughlin, and Peter Doherty.
Midfielders: Brendan McLaughlin, Jamie McKinney, James Bradley, Adam McLaughlin, Jack Doherty, Liam Grant, Paddy Slevin, Patrick McLaughlin, Jack Mullan, and Conor Graham.
Forwards: Jay Bradley, Adam Duffy, Luke Rudden, Garbhan Friel, and Corey McBride
Staff List:Â Gavin Cullen, Manager, Gerard McLaughlin, Assistant Manager, Shane Gallivan, Coach, Mark Moran, Coach, Cahir McLaughlin, Physio, Ciaran Bradley, Kitman.
Gorey Rangers Squad List
Goalkeepers: Cian Browne, Conor Kinsella
Defenders: Conor Casserly, Ryan Cullen, Sean Murphy, Nathan Brennan, Conor Bruce, and Glen O'Brien.
Midfielders: Stephen Kinsella, Gavin O'Brien, Niall Keys, Luke Greene, and Ethan Vickers.
Forwards: Mark Woods, Paul Brennan, Rian Fitzpatrick, Michael Molloy, Adam Territt, Dylan Vickers,
Staff List:Â William Peare, Manager, Conn Mooney, Coach, Gavin Griffiths, GK Coach, Ivan Lynch, Physio; and Sheila Territt, First Aider
