Cookstown claim final-day win as Division 3A season concludes
The Division 3A campaign concluded on Sunday with two fixtures deciding final positions, most notably a convincing win for Cookstown Thirds which saw them secure a comfortable finish in their first season at this level. The other result saw Urney defeat Omagh Thirds to seal third place.
At Paddy Devlin Park the Father Rocks recorded a fourth victory of the season as they overcame Donaghmore Thirds by 3-17 to 2-9. The home side held a narrow lead at half-time, leading 0-10 to 0-6.
Cookstown’s first-half scoring was built from a range of contributors, with points coming from John Gilmore, Stephen Devlin, James Devlin and Brian Mulligan. Donaghmore replied in the opening half through Caolan Mulgrew and Ryan Mullan, who kept the visitors in touch ahead of the break.
The second half proved decisive. Mulgrew continued to be a threat for Donaghmore, finding the net twice to finish with a personal tally of 2-6. His team-mates Declan McGahan and Ryan McGibben also added scores for the visitors, but Cookstown replied with two goals of their own through the experienced Ryan Pickering and another from John Gilmore.
Other contributors for Cookstown included Jake Doris and Ryan Owens, who each landed a brace of points, while Colm Bell also got on the scoreboard in a match that finished 3-17 to 2-9.
Urney finish third after win at Healy Park
Elsewhere at Healy Park, Urney secured third spot in the final standings with a win over Omagh Thirds. The St Columba’s side were led on the day by Ryan Henry, who scored the only goal of the game and finished as Urney’s top scorer with a further 0-4.
Supporting scores came from Conor McDaid and Jamie McAleer, who each finished with 0-4, while Les Miller contributed two points and Anthony Crossan also added to the totals. Omagh’s efforts were concentrated in sporadic bursts: Sean Bresnahan and Ben McFarland each registered 0-2, and Dillon Chism also found the target, but the visitors could not overturn the result.
"with the minimum of fuss."
The closing fixtures provided local supporters with clear messages about both clubs’ trajectories. For Cookstown, the day represented a relatively successful conclusion to their inaugural season at Division 3A level – finishing outside the bottom two and registering notable individual performances. For Urney, the victory confirmed a finish in the top three and highlighted the influence of a single-goal margin supported by accurate point-scoring.
- Match result (Paddy Devlin Park): Cookstown Thirds 3-17, Donaghmore Thirds 2-9
- Match result (Healy Park): Urney (St Columba’s) defeated Omagh Thirds; Ryan Henry scored the only goal
- Standings impact: Cookstown finish outside the bottom two; Urney finish third in the table
| Team | Key Scorers | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Cookstown Thirds | John Gilmore, Ryan Pickering, Jake Doris, Ryan Owens | 3-17 |
| Donaghmore Thirds | Caolan Mulgrew (2-6), Declan McGahan, Ryan McGibben | 2-9 |
| Urney | Ryan Henry (1-4), Conor McDaid (0-4), Jamie McAleer (0-4) | W |
| Omagh Thirds | Sean Bresnahan (0-2), Ben McFarland (0-2), Dillon Chism | L |
Local supporters will now reflect on the season’s positives and the areas for improvement. Cookstown’s ability to secure victories and avoid the lower reaches of the table in their first season at this level will be a point of encouragement as they prepare for the coming campaign, while Urney will take confidence from finishing in the upper part of the table.
Both clubs will look to build on the individual performances highlighted on the final day and to address weaknesses uncovered during the season as they plan for next year’s fixtures.
