CBL Weekend Preview 5th – 7th November 2021

THE standout match in the Sports Gear Direct First Division must surely be the meeting of fifth-placed Co. Council and unbeaten Brew Boys, who currently occupy second spot, at the Regional Pk. next Sunday morning.  Council would have been one of the teams fancied to go up after having plied their trade in the top flight for many years. However, two defeats in their opening two matches  put them six points adrift but a run of four successive wins has put them right back in contention. Striker and September Player-of-the-Month Mario Fosca is in fine form in front of goal along with Jordan Hughes and Dave McCarthy. Anthony Cody’s Brew Boys along with Lion’s Den have been the success story of the division so far, having been going neck and neck in recent week. Tom McGrath and Gavin Quirke have featured among the thirty goals scored in what should be a potential six-pointer even at this juncture of the season.

Elsewhere, Longboats will be looking to get back to winning ways against Telus International who continue to struggle at the wrong end of the table. Jay Bazz take on basement club VIP Barbers who won for the first time in eleven outings against Derrow Rovs. last weekend. Cork Hospitals meet Trend Micro for the first time at the Farm on Saturday afternoon. Both teams are looked in mid table on ten points and a win either way would be a welcome boost. Suro Cars entertain Derrow Rovs. at Mayfield Pk. also on Saturday with seven points separating the teams in Suro’s favour.

At Mayfield Pk. on Friday night In the premier division JONE will be looking to knock another unbeaten team off their perch in UCC Utd. who have scored nineteen goals in their four matches to date. Dave Foley scored a hat-trick for the College last weekend and his confidence should be sky high. Darren McCarthy has had a huge influence up front in the fourteen goals scored by JONE so far and in goalkeeper Luke Madden the home team have one of the best young shot stoppers in the game. Tim Irwin’s SCS Crookstown Utd. get back to action with a tough home fixture again an in-form OBS. United welcome back a number of key players and will need to pick up points to climb out of the bottom two. Marlboro Trust can close the gap on leaders Satellite Taxis with a win over luckless Harp Celtic at Mayfield Community School on Sunday morning. District 11 take on Healy’s at the G.A.C.A. Grounds in another must win confidence booster for both teams.