Weekend of cup finals end a memorable Business League season

DHF Grangevale 3 

DoMA Giants 2

THE CBL brought its inaugural calendar season to a conclusion last weekend with staging the three divisional cup finals at St Colman’s Park.

On Saturday night, DHF Grangevale faced DoMA Giants in the 50th Grandon’s Toyota Jackie O’Driscoll Premier Cup Final and took an 11th minute lead through John Barry, who headed Dave Barrett’s cross into the far corner. 

Have enjoying the bulk of the early exchanges, the Vale were punished for losing possession in the middle which ended with Marcos Aurelio heading a corner into the net off the hands of Rob Oabourne on the half hour.

Gabriel Cavalcante restored the Vale’s lead with a spectacular long range strike in the 38th minute before man-of-the-match Aaron O’Sullivan riffled in a trademark third, his 18th of the season, in the 66th minute. 

After Thiago reduced the deficit in added time with a fine strike from the edge of the area, referee Paul Higgins’ final whistle heralded Grangevale’s first premier cup success in their third season in the league.

DHF Grangevale: Osbourne: Hennessy (Marchenko), Baldwin ; Jenkins, Buckley; Barry, O’Sullivan (Compagno), Barrett (capt.); Harris (Topolnytskyi), Cavalcante (Kelleher), O’Connell (O’Keeffe).

DoMA Giants: Munaldi : Martins, Andreao; Toscaro, Do Nascimento(capt.) (Barreiro), Aurelio, Belchoir (Soares), Capecci ; Vermudt (Lopez), Thiago, Adriano.

Referee : Paul Higgins. Assistants : Damien Morey, Alan Cooper. Fourth Official :Malik Elmusbahi.

A1 FC 2 

Andy Sull’s Hair 3

In a fiercely competitive Grandon’s Toyota Shandon Second Division Cup Final on Sunday afternoon, ASH weathered A1’s bright start to take a 17th minute lead when Emmanuel O’Neal played in Aaron Keohane who finished in style. 

After sub Ronan O’Keeffe added a second in first half added time, man-of-the-match David O’Sulivan delivered a low cross to the near post for Matthew Murray to hammer in a third in 52nd minute. 

Alvin Johnson pulled one back for A1 from an excellent finish in the 63rd minute before another sub Marvin Ekhosuehi got in a second with eight minutes remaining.

A1 FC: Ejeye : Eleke, Ibrahim (Abubakar) ; Aribasoye, Tshimanga (capt.); Nzang (Ekhosuehi) , Igboanusi, Mbudinma (Johnson) ; Tonade, Ogbise, Okafor.

ASH: M. O’Donovan : O’Regan, Kepple (Lahadjo) ; S. O’Donovan (capt.), Murphy (Hegarty) ;Murray, McAuliffe (Dunlea), O’Sullivan; O’Neal (Ryan), Goulding (O’Keeffe) , Keohane.

Referee : Damien Morey. Assistants : Malik Elmusbahi, Keith Haines. Fourth Official : Craig Tillotson.

ISF Ballyphehane Celtic 2 

Jay Bazz Barbers 1

Ballyphehane Celtic completed the treble of league, cup and Mooney Cup after coming from behind to an early own goal to take a 2-1 half time lead and stay ahead in the Grandon’s Toyota Frank Linehan Cup Final to the finish. 

Ryan Constant drilled a free kick under Gavin Cummins to equalize in the 29th minute before rifling a penalty to the back on the net seven minutes later. 

Jay Bazz pushed hard in the second 45 to get back level but couldn’t find a way past a resolute Celtic back four. 

The winner’s pair of goalkeeper Jamie O’Sullivan and central defender Oliver O’Sullivan became the first players to win treble successes in the one season with two different clubs, DHF Grangevale and Ballyphehane.

ISF Ballyphehane Celtic: J. O’Sullivan : Shanahan (Bowen), West; O. O’Sullivan, Tier; Towler (Moynihan), Ring, O’Brien ; Ayala (capt.), Constant (Corcoran), Thompson (Dridi).

Jay Bazz Barbers : Cummins : Cullagh (Keane), R. O’Driscoll ( A. Cambridge), O’Connor, D. O’Flynn (Murphy), A. O’Flynn, J.Cambridge (capt.), J. O’Driscoll (J. McCarthy), Madigan, McCarthy, Smith.:

Referee: Alan Cooper. Assistants : Damien Morey, Paul Higgins. Fourth Official : Keith Haines.

FOOT-NOTE: 

Bertie Stark, who refereed on the league panel for many years and is a good friend of the league, was a welcome spectator at the finals over the weekend. 

I wish to take the opportunity to thank all our readers for their support and encouragement over the years.