Errigal 3rds Through To Last Eight

Saturday 22.08.2026

Championship Football

Errigal Ciaran Thirds 1-15 0-6 Cookstown Thirds

As expected Errigal Ciaran proved too strong for Cookstown, in the battle of the thirds, at Stewartstown in the opening round of the Connollys of Moy Junior championship.

Cookstown Thirds were making their championship debuts against an Errigal side with several years experience fielding at this level.

For the decent crowd that gathered Errigal were able to call upon senior all Ireland winners John Devine and Davy Harte with Owen Mulligan making a second half appearance for Fr Rocks. 2004 All Ireland Minor winners Ronan McRory, John Gilmore and Conor O’Hare played for their respective sides, with 2008 winner Ryan Pickering still delivering for Cookstown.

Errigal opened the proceedings with a Tom Loughran point and raced into a four point advantage after eight minutes, Rob Harper, Ronan McRory and Aaron Neill also on target. John Gilmore got Cookstown up and running with a tenth minute score. Errigal were playing with more fluency and a second Harper free and a brace from Neill extended the lead. Stevie Devlin split the posts for Cookstown but a 20th minute goal from Davy Harte after being set up by McRory probably settled the contest. Harper and Gilmore swapped frees with the sides switching sides with Errigal leading 1-8 0-3.

A John Gilmore free was the only score in the opening ten minutes, as Cookstown improved but could never get the goal to claw their way back into the game. Go Man of the match Rob Harper brought his tally to 0-7 by scoring four of the next five points as Errigal began to pull clear.

Jake Doris and James Devlin were on target for Cookstown, and Doris was denied late on by Devine, as Errigal await their quarter final opponents. For Cookstown it brings to an end an opening season which yielded several positives including four league victories.