Business League: DHF Grangevale stun Doolan's Cow with four goals to reach final
DHF Grangevale who came from 4-1 down at half-time to defeat five time winners Doolan’s Cow 5-4 in their Grandon’s Toyota Jackie O’Driscoll Premier Cup semi-final at Camden
The semi-finals of the three divisions were played last weekend with all three finals set for St Colman's Park on November 7-8.
In the pick of the ties, DHF Grangevale staged a remarkable second-half recovery from 4-1 down at the break to pip five-time winners Doolan’s Cow at Camden.
In Doolan’s first attack down the right Jamie Murphy’s low strike could only be parried by Vale’s keeper Mark O ’Connell for Aaron Hennesy to follow in and open the scoring in the 2nd minute. After Luke Dennehy finished smartly for 1-1 four minutes later, Hennessy again was on hand to finish Murphy’s clever heel from close range in the 10th minute.
Remarkably, it was 3-1 a minute later when the league’s all-time top scorer Tony O’Reilly waltzed past a number of defenders to give O’Connell no chance with only the keeper to beat.
It was looking like the visitors needed to score next and striker Corey Harris twice went close. Then up popped Stephen McCarthy to hammer a fourth after neat passing gave him a sight of goal.
With a strong wind at their backs, Vale stood up to the challenge and after Man of the Match Aaron O’Sullivan fired past Mark McGrath for 4-2 in the 54th minute, Harris added a third a minute later before O’Sullivan equalised with another majestic finish with 14 minutes left.
The by now dominant visitors went in search of a winner and it duly came from captain Dave Barrett who side-footed past McGrath with a minute remaining to end Doolan's hopes of a record sixth triumph.
DoMA ended the interest of holders Arc Rovers at Ballinhassig after scoring in each half through Marcos Aurelio and in the last minute through Rafael Machado Felippe. In between, Tyrese Raheem had levelled for Rovers in the 64th minute.
ASH became the first team to qualify for the finals of this season’s divisional cup competitions when they got the better of Munter’s DCT conquerors Pfizer FC at Mayfield Park last Friday night.
In a competitive opening 45 minutes, Farid Lahadjo crossed for Alan O’Regan to open the scoring in the 31st minute. David O’Sullivan added a second in the 73rd minute before Bryan Goulding got in for a third in added time.
In-form AI FC, whose late run for promotion can up short, made it through to their first Shandon Cup Final courtesy of first-half strikes from Oluwafisayo Tonade and Emeka Mbudinma and two in the second from Mdudinma and Tonade.
Ballyphehane had a quick turnaround to contend with after their gallant losing performance against Coachford. The hosts dominated the early proceedings and went in front in the 22nd minute when Ross Daly was taken down for a penalty which was driven into the roof of the net by Niall O’Brien.
They held out till four minutes in the second half when Ryan Towler and Jamie Thompson capitalised on a mix-up at the back for the latter to equalise.
Ryan Constant scored what would prove to be the winner with nine minutes remaining.
Jay Bazz Barbers struggled in the league all season but could finish their season with silverware after Jamie O’Driscoll broke the deadlock for the Barbers in the 46th minute at Mayfield Park.
After Edward Madigan made it two-nil in the 59th minute, Jack Murphy equalized for the visitors 10 minutes later. Fancied Here’s Health piled on the pressure in the final quarter but the hosts held out to set up a mouth-watering tie with Ballyphehane in the final.
The visitors played a strong starting eleven showing admirable respect for the hosts following their less-than-impressive display in an earlier round of the FAI Junior Cup where they needed penalties to see off the challenge of Doolan’s Cow.
Ryan Constant gave Celtic a dream start when he blasted home a penalty in the 16th minute. Mark Murphy set up Matthew Bradley for the equaliser three minutes later before star striker Luke Casey gave Jamie O’Sullivan no chance with a searing shot from the edge of the area on the stroke of half-time.
The hosts rallied to forge an excellent equalizer from Jamie Thompson. After Gavin O’Sullivan edged Coachford ahead with his first goal for his club, Casey and Adam Murphy went on to add late goals.
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