CBL Weekend Preview 15th October 2021
? Finbarr Buckley
THERE is plenty of varied action to look forward to this weekend with shield, league and FAI Junior Cup fixtures scheduled over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
On Sunday afternoon Deerpark Secondary School hosts the delayed shield semi-final between hosts Satellite Taxis and the only remaining first division club still in the competition, Jay Bazz . Taxis will go into the tie favourites to advance to the final where holders Doolan’s Cow lay in wait. Satellite have been on fire in front of goal with top scorer Breff McCarthy second only to Doolan’s’ Jamie Murphy in the scoring charts. Add into the mix former MiDaza Rebels’ striker and the inaugural Garry McCarthy Trophies October Player-of-the-Month, Damien O’Mahony, James Walsh and Red Geaney and it’s a daunting forward division for any team to face. Jay Bazz, in their first season, have impressed and in captain Brandon Downey and free-kick specialist Adam Hegarty, among some of a talented eleven, have real quality to cause an upset.
The Farm on Sunday morning sees two fascinating FAI Junior Cup second round ties as UCC Utd. host Donoughmore and Doolan’s Cow travel to face another established AUL outfit, UCC. Both BL teams must fancy their chances of advancing having impressed in their first round wins over Leeside and Carrigaline Utd. A.
In the premier division on Friday night, four time winners Marlboro Trust can close the gap at the top to three points with a win over JONE while OBS and District 11 will be each looking for only their second win of the campaign. Harp Celtic and Martin Harvey Solicitors square off in the team’s first meeting of the season.
Twelve teams will do battle over the three days with all eyes focused on the leaders Lion’s Den against the improving Trend Micro and second placed Brew Boys against fourth in the table Longboats. Brew Boys are the only team in the division with a 100% record of six wins and no defeats but will have it all to do against the draw specialists but still unbeaten Longboats. Daz Barbers will be looking to get back to winning ways against Telus International and interesting enough, to show how close things are at the top, should the Brew and Lion’s Den both lose and Daz win, the Barbers would move into second, just two points behind the Den. Council have the chance to get into double points for the first time with victory over VIP Barbers with Suro Cars and Cork Hospitals, both locked on seven points, attempting themselves to reach double points for the first time.