?Planet on a High After Second Win!? Cork Business League Weekly Roundup
? Finbarr Buckley
? Janssen FC recently returned to the CBL after an 11 year absence. Tonight they face CPL in their first competitive game in Douglas Community School.
CBL Shield – Group A
Planet Entertainment (Cork) 2 – 1 Dell EMC
TWO well-executed first-half free-kick from Gary McCarthy inside the opening fifteen minutes set Planet up for a second win in the group at Murphy’s Farm last Saturday afternoon, writes Finbarr Buckley.
McCarthy missed the opportunity to make it a hat-trick of set-piece goals early in the second 45 when his penalty was brilliantly turned away by Cathal O’Sullivan. Earlier, Brendan Daly reduced the deficit for the visitors with a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner on the hour. The hosts held out against a tide of constant pressure in the final quarter to make it two wins out of two. Best for the winners included McCarthy, James Morrissey, Sam Lyne and Pierce O’Keeffe with Steve Dwane and Ger Kelly impressive throughout for the visitors.
VoxPro 1 – 2 Cork Hospitals
Goals from Chris Fitzgerald and Dave Sinnott deservedly had a dominant Hospitals in control at the break only for Reece Hogan to pull one back for VoxPro with twenty minutes remaining. The hosts pushed on for an equalizer with sub Colm Coveney at the hub of every attack but the visitors were glad to hear Daren O’Sullivan’s final whistle and record a much-needed morale-boosting win. Goalkeeper John O’Neill was superb for the winners.
CBL Shield – Group C
CPL 6 – 2 Healy O’Connor Solicitors
CPL made a winning start to their first shield campaign by hitting new look Healy’s for six at Douglas Community School. Former Blackrock Inn marksman Steven Cronin’ s cross was headed in by Ian Harington at the back post to open the scoring for CPL. After Alan Golden equalized for Healy’s from a well-taken free-kick, Harrington edged the hosts ahead again within five minutes after Jonathan O’Driscoll set the striker up for his second of the contest. Cronin added a third with a trademark drive through the middle and finish to the bottom corner only for Shane Healy to pull one back for an experimental Healy’s eleven. Alfonse Gaspar’s pin-point cross picked out Chris Brant’s clever run, the striker applying an excellent finish from a tight angle to deservedly claim the goal of the game. Harrington completed his hat-trick following another inspired run from midfield leaving Gaspar to complete a memorable first day for the hosts with his side’s sixth in the 87th minute. Ashley Todd and Rory Browne were commanding in central defence for CPL.
CBL – Group B
Doolan’s Cow 5 – 3 OBS
Doolan’s got back to doing what they do best by scoring five times to get back on track following the previous weekend’s penalty loss to Abtran. Jamie Murphy opened the scoring for the home side in the 20th minute with Aaron Hennessy doubling the advantage five minutes later. Arainn McGrath pulled one back for OBS in the 35th minute only for James Cotter to restore the host’s two goal lead within two minutes. McGrath netted his second just before half-time only for Cotter to put two goals between the teams again on the hour with his second of the contest. Once again the visitors came storming back when made McGrath it 4-3 and a superb penalty save by Doolan’s’ keeper Stephen O’Leary prevented OBS incredibly drawing level with fifteen minutes still left to play. Hennessy grabbed his second and Doolan’s’ fifth with five minutes remaining to again put two goals between the teams and finish the scoring in an entertaining tie in which Liam Horgan, Darren Geraghty and Craig Keegan shone for the finalists for the last three seasons. McGrath and Shane Creech caught the eye for the visitors.
Sports Gear Direct Shield – Group D
The Weigh Inn 0 – 7 UCC Utd
Debutants, The Weigh Inn, who kept going to the final whistle, felt the full force of a wounded UCC outfit who were intent of getting back the form which won them the premier championship in 2018. Eric Montgomery and Vadym Horobets both scored twice with Ali Ahmidat, Fionn Murphy and Ransell D’Sousa adding further goals for the College in a one-sided affair.
Colso Celtic 1 – 0 Co. Council
Manager James Corcoran must be thrilled with Celtic’s 100% winning start to the season after a first-half goal from Alex Cummins secured all three points and outright leadership in the group for Colso. Council came more into the match in the second 45 but despite Conor Hughes and Lukasz Chowaniek playing well, the visitors have it all to do to make the knockout stages. Eric Seymour, Andy O’Donovan and Ryan Towler were influential throughout for the winners.
FOOT-NOTE : Next weekend thirty years ago, the Shield threw up a couple surprise results with third division Ridge Tools (John Creedon, Tony Foley) drawing 2-2 with favourites Bank of Ireland (Danny O’Leary, Jerry Cummins), in the days before ties were decided by penalty shoot-outs, CIE Ath. (Dave Desmond (two pens.), Pat Downey, Brian McSweeney) beating OLH Utd.(Richard Clifford) 4-1, Centra (Joe Kearney, Derek Forde, Joe Murphy )putting three past Co. Council and Liebert (Dave Geaney, Jimmy Meely, Sean Hanafin, Peter O’Sullivan) winning 4-2 against Garda Utd. (Stephen Roe, Seán McAlhinney (pen.)).