? CBL Weekend Round-Up: Dell Boys Earn Crucial Away Win!

? Finbarr Buckley

? Dell EMC

Sports Gear Direct First Division

The Weigh Inn Dripsey 1  – 3  Dell EMC

DELL EMC put a halt to The Weigh Inn’s recent run of good form by exacting all three points from their visit to The Regional Pk. last Sunday lunchtime, writes Finbarr Buckley.

Despite going in level at the break, the visitors were more likely to break the deadlock after Sean Holmes had gone close on a number of occasions in the first 45. Fittingly, it was Holmes who eventually opened the scoring in the 55th minute when his header found the back of the net from Matthew Tiffany’s corner. Holmes was almost in for a second minutes later before Kevin O’Connor slotted home a second for Dell from a rebound off the keeper. James Linehan got Dripsey off the mark following a free-kick but Tiffany made sure the points were destined for Ovens when he set up O’Connor for his second and the decisive third in the 87th minute. Ger Kelly and Paul O’Hea shone for the winners.                              

Martin Harvey Solicitors 4 – 2 CPL

Martin Harvey Solicitors bounced back from their recent mauling by Abtran to come from behind and overcome CPL in the division’s Friday night encounter at Mayfield Community School. Niall O’Riordan put the hosts one up before Chris Brant levelled from the spot early in the second-half. A Brant header from an Afonso Gasper cross looked to have sealed the points for the visitors with a second with twenty minutes remaining but a stirring fight back from Eric O’Leary’s charges yielded a two of goals from JJ O’Leary, both coming in the last ten minutes, and a much needed three points.

Abtran 4 – 2 VoxPro

Leaders Abtran moved three points clear at the top with a 4-2 win over mid-table VoxPro at Mayfield Community School last Saturday afternoon. Top scorer William Corcoran beat two players to score a spectacular opener with Aidan Fogarty adding a second from a corner. After Eoghan O’Sullivan made it three-nil early in the second 45, Ross Daly pulled one back for the visitors. O’Sullivan, who netted a hat-trick the previous week against Martin Harvey Solicitors, continued his rich vein of scoring form by getting in for his second and his team’s fourth before Daly again completed the scoring on the day with the visitor’s second.

Janssen 4 – 2 Colso Celtic

Janssen got back into the title race with a 4-2 win over Colso courtesy of second-half goals from Alan Murphy (2) and Rory O’Keeffe to lead three-nil midways through the half. Ryan Towler brought it back to 3-1 only for Murphy to complete his hat-trick with a fourth. There was still time for Colso’s Alex Cummins to put two between the teams again but the hosts held out for all three points.

Sports Gear Direct Premier Division

OBS 2 – 2  Marlboro Trust

When these teams met earlier in the shield group stage, Trust ran out comfortable winners and it was looking like they were going for a repeat when Daniel del Blanco and Mark Rionan put the visitors two up inside the opening fifteen minutes. However, OBS, buoyed by their fine win over UCC United the previous week, clawed their way back into the contest on a cold night at Ballea Pk. to reduce the deficit through Jack Cotter who side-footed in a Dara Woodman cross in the 55th minute. With twenty minutes remaining, Nyall O’Brien recycled a cross at the far post for central defender Stephen Corbett to equalize. O’Brien, who foraged a lone path up front for the hosts, came close with a free-kick near the end but the loss of two points was a disappointing outcome for both teams.

Sport Gear Direct Shield – Quarter Final

Doolan’s Cow 6 – 0 Planet Entertainment (Cork)

Doolan’s Cow remain on course for a fourth successive final appearance after a comfortable win over first division opponents Planet Entertainment at Mayfield Community School. The hosts returned to domestic action for the first time since Sunday, October 6th following their exploits in the junior cup competitions and wasted no time in getting going by hitting the front as early as the 10th minute. Liam Horgan supplied the cross for Stephen Heffernan to drill in the opener from close range. Craig Keegan and James Cotter exchanged passes for the former to coolly add a second on the half hour with Jamie Murphy racing clear to lob the third on the hour mark. The tie was always going to be a tough ask for the visitors who competed throughout but were undone once again by the quality finishing of their opponents who tagged on further goals from Cotter (2), one a penalty, and Stephen McCarthy with virtually the last kick of the game. Roy McCarthy, Tony O’Reilly and Sean O’Sullivan impressed for last season’s runners-up. Eoghan Ryan, Sam Lyne and Lee Cooney never stopped running for the visitors.