? CBL Weekend Round-Up: Three Points for Marlboro after Third Attempt!

? Finbarr Buckley

? Nicky Mulcahy (Unofficial: Football): UCC United’s keeper Sean Mellett, who kept a clean sheet against Satellite Taxis last weekend. The last official 0-0 result in the CBL was a First Division game during the 2018/2019 season where Cork County Council held Cork Hospitals to a stalement in Ballincollig Regional Park on Sunday October 7th 2018.

Sports Gear Direct Premier Division

Marlboro Trust 2 – 1 OBS

Marlboro Trust had already lost and drawn one of  their opening two fixtures and welcomed last Sunday’s morning’s  opening 2-1 victory  over OBS  at Mayfield Community School, the visitors now having lost three and won one of the opening four matches, writes Finbarr Buckley.

Adolfo Roden capitalized on a mix-up at the back to give Trust an early lead with his first goal for his club only for Arainn McGrath to find Nyall O’Brien who in turn played in Sean Moore for the equalizer in the 35th minute. David McCarthy restored Trust’s lead on the hour, his shot going in off the post and despite McGrath clipping the post and OBS keeper Phil Brennan making an excellent full length save, no further goals ensued. The introduction of sub Like Scannell for Marlboro forged a interesting link with the past in that he is the grandson of former McSweeney’s and Youghal Yarns’ Bernard ‘Bag of Bones’ O’Sullivan who created history back in 1992/93 with Carpets by being a member of the first team to win all four trophies in the same season.

UCC United 0 – 0 Satellite Taxis

The first meeting between last season’s title chasers ended in stalemate despite plenty of goalmouth incident at both ends. The visitors were unlucky not to go in leading at the break after a volley came back off the crossbar and Cathal Doherty cleared  off his own line. UCC took control of the second 45 and within the opening ten minutes Joe Normoyle headed against the crossbar and Vadym Horobets saw his flick over the keeper bounce on top of the same crossbar. A combination of poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping by Satellite’s Cian Hammond somehow kept the score at nil-nil with first the post denying Satellite and then the underside of the crossbar frustrating Horobets from notching the elusive breakthrough. Normoyle and Doherty shone for United.

SCS Crookstown United 1 – 1 Healy O’Connor Solicitors

Tim Irwin’s Crookstown fancied capturing all three points from the visit of Healy’s but in the end had to be content with a share of the spoils after David O’Halloran’s free on the half-way line carried all the way to the net with  Justin Banks levelling with a similar effort off the keeper’s knee midways through the second-half. Liam Wall almost grabbed a late winner for the hosts whose best included Declan Ambrose, Mark Drummy and Charles Kenneally.

Sports Gear Direct First Division

Abtran 3 – 2 Janssen

Abtran made it four wins out of four to open a two point lead overnight at the top following their Friday night win over Janssen at Mayfield Community School. The home team went close on a number of occasions early on but fell behind to a James O’Sullivan set piece free-kick in the 27th minute. The lead lasted barely seven minutes when Eoghan O’Sullivan struck a contender for goal of the season, his thumping drive ricocheting off the back of the stanchion propelling the ball to the halfway line. Dale Dalton and Will Corcoran combined to force a second for Abtran, the ball going in off a defender before Corcoran fired in the decisive third with ten minutes remaining. In between, Chris Coughlan hit the crossbar and Dalton saw a shot come back off the post. The introduction of the evergreen Shane Bowles maintained Abtran’s dominance in terms of missed opportunities, the striker going close on three occasions. However, Rory O’Keeffe’s corner found the back of the net to reduce the deficit but in a lively encounter, Corcoran, Dalton and central defender John Murphy were superb for the winners.

Planet Entertainment (Cork) 3 – 4 Colso Celtic

Planet missed the chance to leapfrog Abtran at the top, losing to Colso Celtic by the odd goal in five in the meeting between two teams who have yet to lose in the league. Gerard James McCann, James Corcoran, Gary O’Sullivan and Adam Cambridge netted for the winners with in-form scorers Joe Cullagh (2) and James Morrissey on target for the hosts. Liam Hennessy, Kyle Forde, Josh McKenzie and Alex Cummins shone for the visitors.

The Weigh Inn Dripsey 1 – 2 VoxPro

The Weigh Inn were forced into five changes from last Sunday week’s starting eleven which drew with PepsiCo but still put in a credible performance despite not getting something out of their contest with unbeaten VoxPro. In a goalless opening 45, Dripsey’s Daniel O’Brien was unlucky to see his shot clip the post with another effort going over only for Reece Hogan and Darren O’Connor to score twice in quick succession just after the hour mark to seize the initiative against the run of play. Dripsey rallied to pull a goal back through Daniel O’Driscoll in the 80th minute and the same player almost rescued a point only to be denied by a brilliant save. The win leaves VoxPro joined top with Abtran with both on twelve points from four matches played. Noel Looney, Dean O’Sullivan and Michael Reeb impressed for the hosts.

Cork Hospitals 3 – 2 Martin Harvey Solicitors

Cork Hospitals registered their first win courtesy of a 3-2 win over Martin Harvey Solicitors at Ballinhassig. Dusan Ljubojevic edged the hosts in front before Eric O’Leary squared up matters later on the opening 45. Ljubojevic again restored Hospitals’ lead with O’Leary again pouncing to equalize with ten minutes remaining. Two minutes from time sub Mike Brady was on hand to neatly finish from close range and secure a well earned first won for the division’s bottom club. Adam O’Leary, Evan Lordan and Conor Dalton were the pick of Harvey’s performers.