Chasing packs looking to do the Business after Summer Break!
THE first break in the CBL’s inaugural calendar season which is currently taking place from Monday, July 20th to the return of fixtures on the weekend of August 14th / 15th is an opportunity for teams still holding title aspirations to regroup and strengthen their squads ahead the busy middle third of the season, writes Finbarr Buckley.
In the Grandons Toyota Premier Division leaders HELIO Inter Cork enjoy a thirteen point lead at the top after winning nine of their opening ten fixtures. The highlight of their impressive run includes three wins over Doolan’s Cow and a double win over another of their nearest rivals, third placed DHF Grangevale, 2-0 and 4-3. The run also included a 4-3 win over fourth in the table Arc Rovers. Champions Doolan’s were first ruthlessly put to the sword back on Sunday, April 26th at Mayfield Park .After Sergio Cailla Castano put Inter one up in the 32nd minute, further second half goals from Fulvio Bedoya Pabon, Martin Peña Da Silva, Juan Da Villa and Suarez Bustamente sent the shield winners top for the first time.
In between a further 9-1 success in early July, the groundwork for a more recent 3-2 win over the Cow at Rockenham was achieved by going three up through Euclides Costa, Amine Benali and Alejandro Perez before an Aaron Hennessy double stirred the hosts into action. There is no margin of error for the chasing pack who will be looking to an improved run of form to get back on track and will hope that the leaders take their feet off the gas and open the door for a title showdown later in the season.
Interestingly, in the push to avoid the drop, only five points separate second in the table Doolan’s from bottom club Cork Hospitals. The scramble for points even at the half- way stage should make the second third of the season very interesting.
Recently crowned Mooney Cup winners ISF Ballyphehane Celtic are setting the pace in the Grandons Toyota First Division and although their lead at the top is only three points, they have the comfort of have three matches in hand over second placed OBS with Abbey Business a further three points behind. Celtic have a solid defence built around experienced goalkeeper Jamie O’Sullivan and centre-backs Oliver O’Sullivan and Wadi Dridi. Timmy O’Reilly had been an inspiration in the earlier part of the season where his assists had led to many a goal. Since moving onto Midleton in the transfer window he has been adequately replaced by Ryan Constant. Man of the match in the cup final Jamie Thompson is having a terrific season.
It will be interesting to see if OBS, Abbey Business and Here’s Health can launch a title challenge after the break as all three will be looking to inflict a first defeat on the leaders who remain the only unbeaten team in the three divisions. With three points separating the bottom three of Marlboro Trust, The Weigh Inn and Jay Bazz Barbers, the battle to stay up could go well to the wire.
Of the three divisions, the race for the title in the Grandons Toyota Second Division is certainly the most interesting. Leaders Fisherman’s Rest Valley Rangers are currently five points clear on thirty-seven points from sixteen matches played. Three teams, namely, Munster’s DCT, Andy Sull’s Hair and ePower East Cork are tied on thirty-two points and will be looking to push on in the second third of the season.
Having only lost once all season, 4-1, to Pfizer FC just before the break , FR Valley Rangers have been impressive in front of goal with Dylan Carroll, Cian Doyle, Joaquin Almeida, Billy O’Connor and John Noonan regularly among the goals for the Conna based outfit.
Munster’s DCT had been the early pace setters propelled by the goals of Robbie Burke and the two Fields, Matthew and Eoin. However, a 3-1 loss to ASH in late June brought the visitors back into contest while ePower kept among the top five throughout the campaign despite having suffered four losses in their sixteen fixtures. Daragh Bagnell Hartnett, Ryan Murray and Lachlan McRae have been in fine goal scoring form for the East Cork side.
It’s worth sparing a thought for our loyal group of referees who will have to do it all again on the resumption in mid August. Although there are always changes to the panel in July, the league has been fortunate over the years to retain referees who know the league well and have built up a working relationship with teams based on mutual respect and understanding.
