Ballyphehane spot on in historic first Mooney Cup Final win in their history over DoMA Giants

ISF Ballyphehane Celtic 1 

DoMA Giants 1 aet (Ballyphehane won 4-3 on pens)

ISF BALLYPHEHANE CELTIC won the 70th Mooney Cup Final in dramatic fashion at Munster FA Turner’s Cross last Friday night.

Following a pulsating one hundred and ten minutes, the tie required the intervention of penalty kicks for the first division outsiders to see off the dodged resolve of premier division DoMA Giants and create history by becoming the first second tier club to overcome top flight opposition in every round of the cup.

Ballyphehane enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and deservedly went in front in the 21st minute when man-of-the-match Jamie Thompson delivered an inviting cross which was powerfully headed in by Aaron West. 

The Giants were struggling to get a foothold in the match but from their first meaning foray into the opposition’s half, Matias Martins played a delightful pass into the path of Thiago who fired beyond the outstretched hand of Jamie O’Sullivan for the equalizer in the 35th minute.

Celtic continued to set the pace in the second half with Thompsom combining with Timmy O’Reilly for the latter to go close to a second. 

Following a number of injuries, both teams were forced to use their substitutes and after, first DoMA and later Ballyphehane had a player dismissed, the tie moved into extra-time. 

DoMA keeper Batista kept his side in the tie with three outstanding saves in quick succession. 

With aching limbs the shoot-out proved just as enthralling as O’Sullivan’s first save from Rafael Barreiro proved crucial as, with the score at three apiece, who else put Thompson stepped up with the decisive fifth to bring the curtain down on a memorable final and a first for a team with a bright future to look forward to.

ISF Ballyphehane Celtic: Jamie O’Sullivan: Stephen Corry (Jack Austin), Jason Hooley (Musa Moxamed); Oliver O’Sullivan, Wadi Dridi; Sean Moynihan, Jamie Thompson, Timmy O’Reilly (Conor Callaghan) ; Matias Ayala (capt.) (Marcos Flodin), Robert Lynam (Ryan Constant), Aaron West.

DoMA Giants: Aldevino Batista : Matheus Martins, Abner Henrque (Domegoi Mikleusevic); Kaique Carecci (Rafael Machado), Solano Moraes (capt.); Malcom Toscaro, Thiago de Almeida (Alexandre Soares), Adriano de Oliveira; Marcos Aurelio (Gabriel Giovaranardi), Charles Martins (Enzo Agusto), Felippe Cordeiro.

Referee: Grahame Duffy; Assistants : Denis Cronin, Ken O’Driscoll; Fourth Official : Jim Hennessy.

ROUND-UP: In the premier on Wednesday night, Billy Tabb played in Corey Harris for the lead for the DHF Grangevale in the 16th minute before Doolan’s’ Shaun Teegan crossed for Paul Koffi to equalize in the 32nd minute. 

After Aaron O’Sullivan restored the host’s lead three minutes, Jamie Murphy hammered home to level up matters once again. 

Murphy set up Teegan for the lead for the Cow for the first time in the 49th minute only for O’Sullivan to level at 3-3. 

After Aaron Hennessy put the Cow ahead again in the 72nd minute, the Vale rallied for debutant Mark O’Connell to cross for Tabb to head past Emmett O’Driscoll for 4-4.

In the second division, DCT kept on the coat tails of leaders Valley Rangers after goals from Matthew Field (2), Dean Farrissey, Robbie Burke and an own goal led to a 5-1 win over ePower. 

Curry House led Cork County Council 3-2 at half-time before going down 5-3, while ASH enjoyed a big win over Ffizer FC.

On Sunday, Cork Hospitals picked up a much needed win over Arc Rovers with Jamie O’Neill and Rob Hughes netting for the goals in a 2-1 win. Leaders Helio Inter Cork put nine past champions Doolan’s Cow courtesy of Alejandro Perez (3) Joao Martins (2), Ivan Milicevic, Gabriel Da Silva, Jose Guerra and Euclides Costa while DHF Grangevale came away with all three points from their visit to Ringmahon Park where Mark O’Connell’s opener for the Vale was cancelled out by Aaron Cooney in the 90th minute before added time goals from Dave O’Keeffe and John Barry sealed the points.

In the first division, James McCarthy (2), Ryan Sloane, Colin Geary and Rory Murphy were on target for bottom of the table Jay Bazz Barbers in the 5-1 win over Dripsey Celtic. 

OBS got the better of promotion rivals Abbey Business 3-2 while Colm Daly, Mark Sheehan, Levent Arslan and Callan Dempsey, penalty, scored for Here’s Health in their 4-3 win over Marlboro Trust.

On the weekend in the second division Valley Rangers opened up a five points lead at the top following their big win over Curry House. 

Dylan Carroll scored six of the winner’s total. 

The focus switched to the chasing pack on Sunday where DCT brought the gap back to two with goals from Dean Farrissey and Matthew Field, two each, and Robbie Burke in their 5-1 win over Co. Council. 

ASH lost out 4-2 to inform AI FC while ePower stayed in the promotion race after 4-2 win over Carrigaline Celtic.