CBL GOTW: Doolans Cow Deliver Delight on Return to the CBL

Helio Inter Cork 2 – 4 Doolans Cow Bar

Man of the Match: James Murphy (Doolans Cow)

Doolans Cow Bar started their return to the CBL with a bang as they beat Helio Inter 4-2 in a dramatic CBL Grandons Toyota Premier Division encounter in Mayfield Park, writes Donncha Noonan.

The game got off to a fast start when Doolans Cow came close to taking the lead after eight minutes. A long ball over the top from keeper James Murphy played Nathan McCarthy through on goal. McCarthy took his time and tried to guide the ball past Miguel Barcena Gomez, but Gomez stuck his leg out and saved it to keep the game level.

It was a very back and forth first half but it was Doolans Cow who took the lead after half an hour. An inswinging corner towards the back post from Nathan McCarthy landed on the foot of Jamie Murphy who sidevolleyed it into the back of the net to give his side the lead.

Doolans Cow went to strike while the iron was hot and doubled their lead a minute later. Jamie Murphy slipped a ball through to Tony O’Reilly in the left chanell, who ran towards goal before rounding Gomez and rolling the ball into the empty net to double The Cow’s lead.

Helio Inter went looking to get back into the game and did so three minutes before half time. Sergio Castano Cailla picked up the ball in midfield and hooked a pass over the top of the Doolans Cow defence for Juan de Villa to chase. De Villa sprinted towards goal and rolled the ball past Murphy to bring his side back into the affair.

That was the last big action of the half as Doolans Cow went into the break one goal to the good. 

Doolans Cow came close to regaining their two goal lead three minutes into the second half Aaron Hennessy slipped Paul Koffi through on goal down the left channel. Koffi poked the ball goalward but Gomez did well to keep it out.

Helio Inter fought back and grabbed an equaliser in the fifty fourth minute. Juan De Villa went on a brilliant run forward before slipping the ball to Ibrahim Abu Siam down the left hand side. Abu Siam kept going and fired a low shot past James Murphy at his near post to get back level.

Helio Inter continued their good period as they pursued a winner, and they were almost successful in the sixty fifth minute. Juan De Villa played a great one two with Amine Benali at the edge of the box which resulted in De Villa having a crack at goal, but James Murphy did well to smother the effort.

The next goal of the game went to Doolans Cow seven minutes from time. An inswinging corner towards the front post was flicked on by Craig Keegan, where it fell to Tony O’Reilly at the back post where O’Reilly nodded the ball home to grab his second of the game.

There was more drama to come in additional time. An altercation between players near the benches fizzled down after two minutes or so. The end result meant that Jose Orozco Marin was given his marching orders as Helio Inter went down to ten men.

Doolans Cow took full advantage of their numerical upper hand as they made it four late on. After wasting time in the corner, the ball broke to Liam Horgan at the edge of the box, who played it square to Jamie Murphy. Murphy jinked past a defender before slotting it into the bottom left corner to put the game to bed.

The full time whistle blew to cap off the first CBL GOTW in this shortened season. It was a dramatic affair that was separated by very little, but Doolans Cow took the three points on their returning game to the CBL.

Helio Inter: M. Barcena Gomez, N. Lavela Pacheco, G. Trulls, D. Figueiredo, J. Oliveira Guerra, F. Bedoya Pabon, I. Abu Siam, J. Orozco Marin, K. Lopez Vicente, S. Castano Cailla, R. Sarasa, P. Dinamarca Labra, J. De Villa, J. Vidal Madrigal, M. Galicia Barajas, J. Martins, H. O’Neill, A. Benali.

Doolans Cow Bar: James Murphy, S. McCarthy, I. McCarthy, G. Kelly, C. Keegan, P. Koffi, A. Hennessy,  D. O’Donoghue, T. O’Reilly, N. McCarthy, Jamie Murphy, L. Horgan, K. McCarthy, R. McCarthy, D. O’Sullivan, I. Gray.