Cookstown Men will finally open their Ulster Premier League season at Steelweld Park on Saturday against Mossley.
“This should be a real test for us, a great start to this season’s Premier League,” said Cookstown defender Jack Haycock.
“Mossley always make it very tough and I expect this weekend to be no different.
“We played pretty well at Clontarf last time out, and might have had the game won if not for their goalkeeper making so many excellent saves. We’ll have to make more of our chances if we want to compete for the league title this year.
“Hopefully we’ll not have to rely on any after-the-whistle goals against Mossley.”
Cookstown Ladies will be out to continue their excellent start to the season on Friday night when they take on strugglers Kilkeel at Steelweld Park.
The Reds have several people in rich goalscoring form so this promises to be an exciting game that is not to be missed.
Having been knocked out of the Irish Junior Cup last week, Cookstown II will have a few regulars back amongst their squad as they play North Down II in the JL1 League Cup semi-final.
“Last weekend was a great disappointment,” said Captain Mark Wilson. “We’ll need to pick ourselves up and really go for it against North Down.
“They’re a great team and we’ll have to improve no end if we are to get into that final.”
Likewise, Cookstown IV are in the JL3 League Cup semi when they visit Raphoe II on Saturday.
“We’ve had a great run of wins over the start of the season and it would be fantastic to find ourselves in with the chance of silverware if we can win on Saturday,” said Reds’ defender Gary Major.
“It won’t be easy – it never is at Raphoe. But we’ll go into it full of confidence and looking for goals.”
Cookstown III take on Annadale in the last game of the weekend at Steelweld Park at 4pm.
The Reds will look to improve on their form of late and get some more points on the board against their old rivals.
FRIDAY
Cookstown Ladies v Kilkeel (8pm)
SATURDAY
Cookstown II v North Down II (1pm)
Cookstown Men v Mossley (2.30pm)
Raphoe II v Cookstown IV (2.30pm)
Cookstown III v Annadale III (4pm)
| TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cookstown | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||||
| Instonians | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Newry | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||||
| Mossley | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | ||||
| Kilkeel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| North Down | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Raphoe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| S Antrim | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| NICS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | ||||
| Harlequins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 | ||||
| Portadown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 | ||||
| Queens | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -4 | 0 |
| TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limavady | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Cookstown | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Larne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Instonians | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Newry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Donaghadee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ballynahinch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Derg Valley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Parkview | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bandon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cookstown | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mossley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Portrane | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |