Business League: Healy O'Connor Solicitors and Jay Bazz Barbers setup Mooney Cup showdown
Healy O’Connor Solicitors defeated Longboats 2-1 in the first of the Business League Mooney Cup semi-finals at Mayfield Community School. Picture: Finbarr Buckley.
Premier Division opponents Healy O’Connor Solicitors and Jay Bazz Barbers made it through to the final of this season’s blue ribbon trophy competition, the Mooney Cup, following dramatic wins in their semi-finals Shield finalists Longboats and Healy’s were first into the fray at Mayfield Community School.
A tense opening 45 burst into life in the 49th minute when John McLoughlin chased down a log ball to get in ahead of a defender and score to put Healy’s in front.
With the tie edging towards the final 10 minutes, Kieran O’Driscoll thumped a second past a fully stretched Eddie Walsh from a low cross to add a decisive second. Craig McNamara responded with a late consolation in the final minute.
In the northside derby in the late kick-off at Crosshaven, Jay Bazz edged out fancied Swift to seal a first final appearance. The winners scored early through David Dunlea in the ninth minute who neatly controlled a poor clearance from a cross on the left to give William Murphy no chance with a finish into the bottom corner.
With seven minutes remaining Aaron Kemp swung in a deep cross which fell for sub Jamie O’Driscoll who was taken down for Sam Heffernan to fire in the resultant penalty.
Leaders Arc needed an equaliser two minutes from time from ace marksman Timothy Twomey to stretch their lead at the top to five points.
After Marco Bento put Helio one up in the 83rd minute and within touching distance of securing a morale-boosting three points, Twomey struck late to rescue a crucial point at the Regional Park.
Basement club Satellite Taxis picked up only their second win of the campaign to give themselves a fighting chance of avoiding the drop. The defeat leaves ASH now staring relegation in the face with only two fixtures remaining to save themselves.
James Walshe opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before Jason Meehan and Walshe got in on the act with further goals in the 66th and 69th minutes respectively. Alan O’Regan set up Scott McCarthy for the host’s reply in the 72nd minute but the visitors prevailed to secure the points.
Paul Hickey set up top scorer Billy Tabb for a 10th-minute opener for the visitors before Michael Coffey added a second five minutes before half-time. Daniel Jaouhari reduced the deficit in the 58th minute but EVcore saw out the remainder of the half to move up to third in the table.
MHS and Grangevale shared six goals in an entertaining contest at Ringmahon Park. After Ray Delany opened the scoring from a tap-in in the 16th minute, striker Corey Harris was upended in the area in added time in the first half for captain Dave Barrett to equalise from the penalty spot.
Jake Hawkins edged the hosts in from a well-placed free-kick in the 51st minute only for Harris to cross for John Barry to level with 11 minutes remaining.
A goalmouth melee in the 83rd minute led to central defender Alan Buckley firing the Vale in for the first time from close range only for the unlucky Aaron Baldwin to head into his own net in attempting to steer the ball to safety dep into added time.
Suro Cars moved up to second after a thumping win over relegation-threatened OBS at Mayfield Community School. Goals from Callan Dempsey and Conor Philpott inside the opening 27 minutes set the tone for Mark McStay, Dempsey and Philpott to complete a comprehensive win with further goals early in the second 45.
Ballyphehane Celtic strengthened their grip at the top to make a first-title success a likely possibility.
Four first-half goals from Aaron West, Craig Noonan, Mohamed Vangahun and Rob Lynam were bettered by Jamie Thompson (3), Vangahun, Ciaran Greene and player-manager James Corcoran in the second 45 to stretch the host’s winning run to ten matches.
Council bounced back from an early Sean Greer 32nd-minute lead for Stryker to score three unanswered second-half goals courtesy of Ross Daly (2) and sub Kelvin Owens to maintain their recent good league form.
Goals from Adriano (2), Hugo Monteiro, Pedro Nunes Neves and sub Marcos Soares Viera kept Sabor right in the hunt for promotion as the push intensifies to see who’ll join likely winners ISP Ballyphehane Celtic in the first division next season.
Michael McElligott, Dean Farrissey, Anthony Doran, Ronan Lawlor and Michael Mitchell were among the goals for joint leaders DCT FC at Crosshaven.
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