Business League round-up: Marlboro Trust, OBS and ePower into cup semis
Business League: Captains Alan O’Connor (Marlboro Trust) and Stephen O’Flaherty (MSL Engineering) with referee Joe Harris before the Shandon Cup Second Division quarter-final at Mayfield Park. Picture: Finbarr Buckley
MSL made their first appearance before the Veo camera in the Match of the Week at Mayfield Park.
Two goals inside a four-minute spell before the half hour from Marlboro’s Daniel Fernandez and Daniel Jaquhari put the visitors in control. However, the home team got back into contention in first-half added time when John Martin Lehane netted his fourth of the season. With no further scoring, Trust progressed to the last four.
OBS had to come from behind on two occasions to see off the challenge of a much-improved Pfizer FC at Crosshaven.
Goals from Pfizer’s Syl Byrne and Francisco Ocana Perez set up a potential upset before Ross Daly reduced the deficit in the 31st minute.
A Mark Maher penalty tied up the contest in the 65th minute only for the industrious Patrick Clifford to edge the visitors in front for a second time three minutes later. However, quick goals from David Manley and a second Maher penalty ended Pfizer’s gallant efforts.
ePower prolonged their season by advancing to the semi-finals.
After ePower’s Ryan Murray and Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khimich shared early goals, Daragh Bagnell Hartnett got in for his 11th of the season within four minutes of the equalizer to score the decisive winner.
In a defining weekend in the destination of the title, Sabor strengthened their grip at the top to end Ballyphehane’s hopes after second-half goals from Hugo Monteiro and Adriano gave Celtic a mountain to climb.
Anthony Moynihan’s added-time goal came too late to affect the outcome.
The LAB kept their title hopes alive with a fixture to play courtesy of Matthew Ekhosuehi (2), Stephen Folasade, Joshua Reddy and Eolann Ogundu Treacy. Eoin Field had earlier cancelled out Folasade’s opener for the visitors.
Dripsey ended Here’s Health’s title aspirations and in the process, boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation by winning 2-1. Goals in the final 20 minutes from Daniel Smith and Ciaran Pittorino could only be countered by a Joe Cullagh reply.
Darren McGrath set up Tony O’Reilly for his 22nd of the season in the 25th minute before Ruben Sarasa equalized with three minutes remaining. Doolan’s prevailed in the shoot-out to make it through to a sixth semi-final appearance.
Ian Tobin’s 11th-minute strike for the visitors separated the teams at half-time. A Stephen Dwyer double stretched Longboats’ lead to three by the 67th minute.
After Ilija Zagorac got one back for the hosts in the 84th minute, Ray Murphy added a fourth for the winners to seal a last-four tie.
Cork Hospitals made it through to the last four for the second year in a row after coming from behind against the Barbers at MTU.
Jamie O’Neill opened the scoring for the Hospitals in the 12th minute, only for Adam Hegarty to equalise in the 19th and put his side ahead for the first time three minutes into the second 45. Richard Bambury and O’Neill restored the host’s lead by the 68th minute to seal the tie.
In a high-scoring tie at Corinthians Park in mid-week, Abbey Business raced into a 5-0 half-time lead courtesy of John McLoughlin (2), Shane Murphy, Rob Twomey and Cian Lucey.
After Ronan Lawlor reduced the deficit five minutes into the second 45, Ben Ryan restored the hosts' five-goal lead on the hour. Ryan added his second of the night in the 74th minute but the visitors scored again through sub Alex O’Dea with three minutes remaining.
Arc Rovers advanced at the expense of AUL Premier opponents City Wanderers at MTU. The teams were evenly matched throughout the opening hour before Kane Murphy combined with David McGuire to score the breakthrough and decisive goal in the 64th minute.
Valley’s brave cup run was ended by Sullane FC at Conna. A blistering start by Rangers yielded goals from Ben O’Connor and Tadgh Clancy inside the opening five minutes.
Aodha Keane pulled one back in the run into half-time to give the visitors the platform to go on and add further goals from Fionnán O’Brien and Mikey O’Callaghan.
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