Net
Busters back in the Hunt.
Thursday
Division 1
Damien Byrne's Net Busters are back
into contention after a poor start to the season where they only had
one win in their first four games. With 2 games in their division
last week, it was important that they picked up maximum points. They
impressively overcame the Boca Seniors in a cracking encounter that
ended up 4-1 to the Net Busters. Martin Deady was instrumental and
scored twice with very well taken goals. On Thursday they beat the
Thirty Somethings, after an impressive comeback at the very end of
the game. With just two minutes left on the clock and losing 5-4, Paul
Sexton equalised after a great run and pass from his brother John. Two more goals followed in the final minute from the boot of Jake Smith
and Brian Smith to put them two points behind leaders Ezy FC.
Ezy look to be back to their best, also
after a shaky start to their campaign, as they cruised to two
important wins last week, firstly over the Thirty Somethings on
Monday night and followed it up on Thursday night with an equally
impressive win over the Dreamers. Both wins were by large margins,
and their keeper Charlie Fitzmaurice's displays have been impressive.
His tall frame, sometimes is unsuited to the smaller goals, but his
ability to get down to save quickly and make a tough save look easy,
have been a major part in Ezy's success over the last 3 seasons. Dave
Johnson, John Daly and Steve Dwyer were all in top form again for
Ezy. Dwyer and Sexton look set to battle it out for the Golden Boot
with Dwyer currently leading by 2 goals.
Thursday
Division 2
Mount Oval maintain top spot here after
a good 6-3 win over Cork Celtic. This division looks like a 4 horse
race at this stage with a gap opening up between 4th and
5th spot. An excellent display from the energetic Dave Hogan and a
brace of goals helped the Oval to the 3 points. Dan Ryan also hit the
net twice and Polish man Robert Kreigal looks like an excellent
addition to their squad.
The Sons of Pitches are now up into second place after their fourth win on the bounce. After losing
their opening 2 games they have impressively regrouped. Michael
Deasy's return to full fitness has been crucial to their current
form. His non stop work rate around the pitch is typical of the Sons
of Pitches style but his ability to produce a sublime piece of skill
is crucial to the Pitches chances of success this season. His back
heeled goal mid way through the first half to put his side 3-1 in
front was a contender for goal of the week. The Pitches never lost
their two goal advantage winning 5-3 in the end.
The Cowboys and River Plate played out
a closely fought game. River Plate won the Carrigaline bragging
rights, until their next encounter, with them winning 6-4. But
credit must go to the Cowboys who made a great game of it and were
pushing for an equaliser at the end of the game when River Plate
broke away to score through man of the match Gavin O'Driscoll.
Brothers Brian and Shane Murphy were best for the Cowboys.
Hardly Athletic lost further ground
after and excellent start to the season as they drew 3-3 with JT
Specials in a game where both teams very fully committed but very
evenly matched. The Specials had the best of it in the first half but
Hardly Athletic upped their 2nd half performance to gain a
point. Dan Hegarty for the Specials and Declan O'Dwyer for Hardly Ath
were the players who were on top of their game.
Thursday
Division 3
Panicyakios went top for the first time
this season, although only on goal difference, as they overcame a
dogged Barrells outfit by a 4-2 scoreline. Conor Hawes and Peter
Reidy with a brace a piece for Panicyakios, who would have won by much
more than the two goal margin, only for a marvellous display by Conor
Long in the Barrells goal. Phil Wade and Patrick Coleman battled hard
for the losers.
Black Gold had an excellent first half
against the Whitfords, but the experienced Whitfords were too clever
for their much younger opponents in the second half and opened up
their defence at will, running 6 unanswered goals after the score was
tied 1-1 at half time. Gavin Rosser was best for the Whitfords and
showed some clinical finishing while scoring a hatrick.
Exiles were held by Shanty Utd 3-3 in a
really tough encounter, with a draw being a fair result. Mark Ryan
was in top form for the exiles and scored all his sides goals, while
Kevin Murphy was best for Shanty and chipped in with a goal along
with Neilus Murphy and Darren Burns.
Men Utd should have closed out their second win of the season but slipped up and conceded a soft
equaliser to a spirited Flying Column team. Dan McCarthy with the
late equaliser for the column, while Danny O'Driscoll scored United's
two goals.
Wednesday
Division 2
With 2 games in this division last
week, Nualight still find themselves on top after a good win over
fellow contenders Deportivo, but then slipped up against CUH going
down to the Wilton Boys 5-3.
Schuf moved into 2nd spot
after but failed to really capitalise on Nualight losing, as they
went down to Johnny Boys Utd in a tough game on Wednesday. Third
placed Deportivo did not capitalise either, as they also only won one
of their games last week. Johnny Boys were the only team last week to
win both games and are now back in contention standing in fourth place 4 points off the top.
Kevin Finn with a top performance for
Utd and a brace of goals in their impressive 3-1 win over Schuf.
Ivan Weir scored 4 times for CUH in an equally excellent display to
topple leaders Nualight on Wednesday. Rowan Morgan did likewise for
Nualight on Monday when dismantled Deportivo 6-2. This division looks
like it will be a close one, with all teams at the top a little
inconsistent.
Wednesday
Division 3
The Bobcats find themselves 7 points
clear after 7 games, and obvious hot favourites at the half way stage
to take the title, but dropped their first points after they were
held to a 4-4 draw by Balaga Tongo. Brian Smith coming up with a late
equaliser for the Bobcats to remain the only unbeaten team in the
Wednesday night leagues. Balaga's John Duggan was man of the match in
this excellent game that saw both fully committed to attacking.
Duggan scored a brace along with goals from Ed Noonan and Eoghan
Kennedy. On Monday night, Hit or Miss narrowly beat the Could Have
Beens 3-2. The very reliable Jurgen Bukowski with a brace while Steve
Sinnott scored a superb goal for Hit or Miss. The Could Have Beens
battled hard, but came up just short against a defence superbly led
by Cormac Murray. Denis Collins with a great strike late on in the
game after his brother Niall opened the scoring for the veteran Could
Have Beens.
AC Standard narrowly beat Rosies on
Monday night by the same scoreline but were then held to a rare 0-0
draw by Hit or Miss on Wednesday. Bill Henry in the Standard goal
making two brilliant 2nd half saves making sure of the 0-0
scoreline, the first 0-0 in 4 years of the Footy leagues. But with
both sides well organised defensively, this was always going to be a
low scoring game.
Balaga Tongo went down 5-2 to the Could
Have Beens on Wednesday night. Derek O'Brien with a late brace for
CHB who did well to come from behind. Denis Cronin was man of the
match in goal for CHB and made some excellent saves, while Mike
Holland was also in top form in defence to help his side to their
first win of the season. John Duggan was again best for Balaga Tongo,
while Zack Falvey fought hard for the losers. Niall Collins's thunderbolt into the top corner from 20 yards was the games highlight to put his side 3-2 ahead just before half time.
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