Junior striker signs for ’Stute

Tullyally Colts front man Andrew Cooke, who has netted over 20 goals in the North West Junior First Division this season, has signed until the end of the season and Head of Development Paul Kee is thrilled by the new addition.

“We need somebody who can run in behind defences and is a game, willing runner and who has a physical presence and he ticks all the boxes,” explained Kee.

“He has scored a lot of goals for Tullyally and he has got a good junior pedigree, he’s a nice young fella who comes across well and he’s a fine athlete and maybe not immediately but he will be thrown into the action, because he ticks all the boxes.”

Kee also hopes that Cooke can have a similar impact which Jason McGrinder did last season and he also acknowledged that he tried to sign Newbuildings United duo Ricky Lee Dougherty and Gareth Falconer

“Last season young McGrinder came from Strabane Athletic, who played in the second or third division in the Fermanagh and Western League, so we have nothing to lose by throwing Cooke into things.

“We tried to sign a few more players but we couldn’t do that in terms of the money we have got, we were looking at young Ricky Lee Dougherty and he would have been a descent option as he has done well and young Gareth Falconer as well at Newbuildings.

“But they have got something to play for as they are still in the Irish Cup, so you don’t want to break their momentum and to be honest I think they should stay there.

“I will see how young Cooke gets involved at training tonight (Thursday) and then we’ll make a wee judgement call after that in regards having him involved in this weekend’s match against Newry City.”