DCT take down FR Valley Rangers to be crowned as Second Division Champions

FR Valley Rangers 1 – 3 Data Centre Technologies

Man of the Match: Michael Mitchell

It was a titanic title-decider that was played out in the Conna Community Centre between DCT and FR Valley Rangers, where DCT came out on top to secure the Grandon’s Toyota CBL Second Division title.

DCT started the stronger of the two sides, and almost took the lead in bizarre fashion after eight minutes. Dean Farrissey burst down the right wing and whipped a cross towards the box, where it hit the head of defender Eoghan Ryan. It began looping towards the top left corner, which forced Jaydan O’Connor into a brilliant finger tip save.

The fast start eventually paid off for the visitors, as they took the lead in the thirty-second minute. Michael Mitchell hooked a lovely ball down the right wing for Dean Farrissey to chase. The winger reached it before cutting in and barrelling goalward, where he slotted a low shot past Jaydan O’Connor to give his side a deserved lead.

Things only got better for the league leaders, as they doubled their advantage two minutes later. Michael Mitchell won the ball in midfield as FR Valley Rangers were attempting to counter, before sliding the ball out left to Robbie Burke. Burke sized up the full back, before cutting inside and driving a superb shot into the bottom right corner to put his team two goals to the good.

They weren’t quite done there though, as DCT grabbed a third of the half in the thirty-eighth minute. Michael Mitchell delivered a corner that floated towards the back post, where it was Nikita Zigunovs who rose highest to power a header into the back of the net from close range.

That was all for the first half, as a huge DCT performance put them in a comfortable position, just forty-five minutes away from glory.

The hosts came out of the break with a point to prove, and got back into the game just five minutes into the half. John Noonan picked up the ball in midfield on the turn and threaded a perfectly weighted pass through for Cian Doyle down the right channel, who lifted the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net to pull a goal back for his side.

Despite that, a disastrous mix-up at the back almost cost DCT a fourth goal in the fifty-ninth minute. Ivan Ohrin’s attempted long ball smashed off the back of teammate Ben O’Connor, diverting the ball into the path of Robbie Burke through on goal. He dinked the ball over the keeper, but recovering defender Clancy was on hand to clear the ball off the line and spare FR Valley Rangers’ blushes.

The rain began to pour in Conna as FR Valley Rangers threw everything at it to find another goal, and they found a great chance to do so with twelve minutes remaining. Cian Doyle led a counter attack and burst towards the edge of the box, before the ball was poked away from his path. It fell to the oncoming Jack Murphy, whose first tim shot was well held by David O’Donovan.

And that was that, with the blow of the full-time whistle DCT have been crowned Grandon’s Toyota CBL Second Division Champions after what has been an enthralling title race. Congratulations to everyone at DCT.

FR Valley Rangers: J. O’Connor, B. O’Connor, T. Clancy, E. Ryan, I. Ohrin, O. O’Neill, C. Doyle, C. Hickey, J. Noonan, C. Ivory, T. Hartnett, R. O’Neill, S. Carr, A. Carr, M. Quinn, D. Carroll, S. Coughlan, J. Murphy.

Data Centre Technologies: D. O’Donovan, G. Field, E. Field, D. O’Sullivan, C. O’Sullivan, M. Mitchell, L. O’Sullivan, N. Zigunovs, R. Burke, M. Field, D. Farrissey, S. McCarthy, V. Slabkovskis, D. Coughlan, R. Meth, C. McIndoe, N. Hurley, L. Bermingham.