Council survey possible double with win over Abtran! Cork Business League Weekly Roundup
Frank Linehan Cup – Quarter-Final
Abtran 0 – 5 Co. Council
CO. COUNCIL eased into the last four of this season’s Frank Linehan First Division Cup following a comprehensive win over Abtran at Mayfield Community School last Sunday morning, writes Finbarr Buckley.
The visitors remain on course for a league and cup double which the club has never achieved before in the one season after thirty-nine years involvement in the league. Paul Barry headed Council in front from an Evan Mohally corner inside the first five minutes with Jason Crowley setting up Ian Scott for a second fifteen minutes later. Scott duly repaid the favour by supplying Crowley with the pass to add a third before half-time. Fergus O’Connor fired in the goal of the match from Tom Clery’s pass to stretch the lead to four with O’Connor turning provider when setting up Mark Geary to round off a comfortable win for The Regional Park outfit. Barry and Richard O’Regan were solid throughout at the back marshalled as ever by the evergreen John Hayes who first played in the league as far back as 1987 with Liebert before going on to win a host of honours with not alone Liebert, but also Aer Lingus and Roches Stores.
Sports Gear Direct Premier Division
Healy O’Connor Solicitors 1 – 3 Quinlan’s Bar
Quinlan ’s, without the services of David Busher and Eric Fleming but welcomed back Kevin Murphy in defence, kept their title aspirations alive by winning at Garryfuff last Saturday afternoon to keep within touching distance of title favourites Doolan’s Cow. A Damien O’Mahony strike separated the teams at half-time in favour of the visitors. Diarmuid Kenneally doubled the lead in the 65th minute with Graham Hosford also on target for the away team who conceded a Francis O’Callaghan penalty late on which was a just reward for Healy’s gutsy performance on the day.
Sports Gear Direct First Division
Planet (Cork) 2 – 2 Dalton’s Pharmacy
Planet and Dalton’s shared the spoils in the only first division fixture played last weekend at Mayfield Pk. Paulo Santos netted first for Planet only for Joe Cullagh to level. After Jason O’Sullivan looked to have sealed the points for Dalton’s, Robert Egan popped up with a last minute penalty equalizer to guarantee the teams remain locked on twenty-two points each with both having three matches left to play. Santos, Steven Kiely and Rhys Horgan shone for the visitors.
Mid-week Round-up : In the Sports Gear Direct First Division, leaders SES Crookstown Utd. moved three ahead of challengers Co. Council courtesy of a 4-1 win over in-form OBS at Crookstown last Wednesday night. Michael Quinlan opened the scoring after twenty-five minutes with Charles Kenneally heading in a second for the hosts ten minutes later. Michael Henchion added two second-half goals for Tim Irwin’s charges to keep the destination of a first title success in the home team’s own hands with five matches each to play for the top three. Colm O’Brien’s late volley with two minutes remaining only proved a consolation for Donal Coakley’s OBS who will have better days at the office in the weeks ahead. Michael Deasy foraged away in the centre for Crookstown and was well supported by the impressive back-four of Kevin Barrett, Michael Kelleher, Charles Kenneally and Mark Drummy.
On Thursday, Co. Council went back on top on goal difference courtesy of a 4-1 win over early leaders 20/20 Glazing at The Regional Pk. Goals from Brian Byrd (2) and Jason Crowley helped the home side into a comfortable half-time lead and after Fergus O’Connor made it four-nil on the hour and Brian Gunning pulled one back for Glazing shortly afterwards, Richard O’Regan wrapped up an 11th league win from the penalty-spot after Evan Mohally was taken down. Michael Ryan and Dave Murphy shone for the winners. Across town at the G.A.C.A. Grounds, Glanmire, Abtran went behind to a Paul Byrne goal early in the first half before rallying with goals from Eoghan O’Sullivan and Darragh Williamson to seal the points. Daniel Tirca had earlier hit the crossbar for Abtran.
FOOT-NOTE: The Mick Mooney Cup Final between Satellite Taxis and Quinlan’s Bar has been re-scheduled for Wednesday May 29th at Turner’s Cross (kick-off 7pm). The Jackie O’Driscoll Premier Division Final is on at same venue on Monday, May 20th with the Frank Linehan First Division decider taking place six days later on Sunday, May 26th (kick-off 11am) also at Turner’s Cross