Cockhill Celtic F.C.

Cockhill Celtic F.C.
Cockhill Celtic F.C. crest
Full nameCockhill Celtic Youth and Football Club
Short nameCockhill
Founded28 October 1970; 56 years ago (1970-10-28)
GroundCharlie O'Donnell Sports Grounds, Buncrana
ChairmanJoe McLaughlin
ManagerGavin Cullen
LeagueFAI National League
2025–26Inishowen Football League, 1st of 9

Cockhill Celtic Football Club is an Irish association football (soccer) club based in Buncrana, County Donegal. The club's senior men's team competes in the FAI National League, the third tier of the Republic of Ireland football league system. The club also fields teams in the regional Inishowen Football League.

The club qualified for the FAI Cup in 2014. In December 2025, Cockhill Celtic were announced as one of the 15 teams that would participate in the FAI National League's inaugural season.

History

Cockhill Celtic Youth and Football Club was founded on 28 October 1970 as Westbrook Celtic by a group of men — which included Michael Doherty and Joe McLaughlin — who played football in Buncrana. The club originally played their matches on a pitch called Coneyburrow, on the Castle Grounds in Buncrana, while they competed in both the Derry & District Football League (D&D League) and the Inishowen Football League. They moved to Cockhill and became 'Cockhill Celtic' in 1974, and moved into the Inishowen Football League. They remained there until 2005, when the club transferred to the Ulster Senior League.

After the 1984–85 season, the club decided to apply to the Ulster Senior League. In 1989, the association football club amalgamated with the local youth club to become collectively known as 'Cockhill Celtic Youth and Football Club'.

The club qualified for the FAI Cup in 2014.

Gavin Cullen was appointed manager in June 2015, replacing Donal O'Brien. The former Finn Harps goalkeeper initially took over as player-manager, having previously managed the youth side.

In April 2024, Cockhill became champions of the Inishowen Football League Premier Division after defeating Greencastle 2–0. The club won the league title again in 2025–26.

In December 2025, with the addition of the FAI National League—the third national tier—Cockhill Celtic was announced as one of the 15 teams participating in the inaugural 2026 season.

Squad

National League squad

As of September 2026

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  IRL Harry Doherty
2 DF  IRL Lee McLaughlin
3 DF  IRL Lee McColgan (captain)
5 DF  NIR Jason Breslin
6 MF  IRL Adam Duffy
7 FW  IRL Luke Rudden
8 MF  IRL Damian Duffy
9 FW  IRL Garbhan Friel
10 MF  IRL Corey McBride
11 FW  IRL Jay Bradley
12 MF  IRL James Bradley
14 DF  IRL Odhran O'Brien Daly
15 MF  IRL Kieran McElroy
16 MF  IRL Tiernan Ruddy
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW  IRL Nathan McDaid
18 MF  IRL Jack Mullan
19 MF  IRL Danny McDaid
21 MF  IRL Conor Graham
22 FW  IRL Seamus McLaughlin
23 FW  IRL Brendan McLauglin
25 GK  IRL Shane O'Gara
— GK  IRL Gavin Cullen
— DF  IRL Oisin McColgan
— DF  IRL Peter Doherty
— MF  IRL Daniel Martin Doherty

Ground

Cockhill Celtic play their home games at the Charlie O'Donnell Sports Grounds. The club's home ground is named after long-time chairman Charlie O'Donnell (chair from 1978 until his death in 2007). The ground seats 1,000 people and is located on Cockhill in Buncrana. The club also has two astroturf pitches.

In 2017, the club grounds suffered flood damage; they received €101,000 from a UEFA Natural Disaster Grant.

Honours

In culture

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Cockhill Celtic Youths - Inishowen Football League". inishowenfl.ie. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 McNulty, Chris (21 April 2023). "Gavin Cullen: A reluctant manager delivering the goods for Cockhill". www.donegallive.ie. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Watch: Cockhill Celtic manager encouraged despite FAI Cup exit". derryjournal.com.
  4. ↑ Limegreentangerine. "15 clubs confirmed for new FAI National League". www.fai.ie. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "About Club – Cockhill Celtic Football Club". www.cockhillcelticfc.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  6. ↑ McNulty, Chris (31 March 2014). "Swilly Rovers at home in FAI Cup as Cockhill get bye". Donegal News. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  7. ↑ Kelly, Oisin (18 June 2015). "Gavin Cullen takes over as Cockhill Celtic Manager". Highland Radio. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "Cockhill captain Bradley "over the moon" with title win". Highland Radio. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Inishowen Football League - Final tables 2025–26". inishowenfl.ie. Archived from the original on 27 August 2026. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Limegreentangerine. "15 clubs confirmed for new FAI National League". www.fai.ie. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Cockhill Celtic 2026 National League squad". extratime.ie.[failed verification]
  12. ↑ "Cockhill Celtic Football Club : Buncrana, County Donegal : Soccer Pitch Directions & Map : Contact Details". soccer-ireland.com.
  13. ↑ Blake, Ben. "Cork City and Cockhill Celtic receive €160k in UEFA Natural Disaster Grants". The42.ie.
  14. ↑ "Roll of Honour - Ulster Senior League". uslfootball.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018.
  15. ↑ "New Ulster Senior League season kicks off on Wednesday evening". donegaldemocrat.ie.
  16. ↑ McNulty, Chris (26 July 2020). "USL – Cockhill crowned champions to secure eighth title in a row". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 12 January 2026. The inscription from the silversmith is by now a familiar one as Cockhill Celtic clinched their eighth successive Ulster Senior League title.
  17. ↑ McNulty, Chris (12 July 2023). "USL demise to signal junior return for Cockhill, Bonagee and Letterkenny". www.donegallive.ie. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  18. ↑ "Rockmount retain FAI Intermediate Cup with dramatic penalty shootout win". Irish Examiner. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  19. ↑ "Penalty heartache for Gorey Rangers as Cockhill Celtic claim FAI Junior Cup". Wexford People. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  20. ↑ "Roll of Honour - Ulster Senior League Cup". uslfootball.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018.
  21. ↑ "Cockhill Celtic are Inishowen Premier Division Champions". Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
  22. ↑ O'Connor, Joseph (25 January 2011). Inishowen. Random House. ISBN 9781446435816 – via Google Books.

55°09′00″N 7°26′15″W / 55.1500°N 7.4374°W / 55.1500; -7.4374