Dublin Football Tournament – Business Fives August 2022

Flutter Find the net for Children’s Health Foundation as they claim Dublin Crown

Business Fives landed in Dublin for the first time on Thursday 4^th August as 30 teams combined to score 379 goals in 83 matches and more importantly raise €8,962 for charities across the country.

With former Premier League star John Hartson on hand to present the trophies the top fundraiser prize was hotly contested as teams from across the city were playing for donations for their chosen charity and hopes of becoming the inaugural Dublin champions.

There was a number of notable contributions with FMI raising €550 for AsIAm, Concentrix raising €598 for CMRF Crumlin, Flutter raising €603 for Children’s Health Foundation, Mason Hayes & Curran raised €750 for UNICEF Ireland.  3 teams passed the €1k mark in phenomenal fundraising efforts as Pinergy raised €1,120 for Cancer Research and Scorebuddy raised €1,150 to lift the award on the day with entries closing at 530pm.  A last minute surge was just too late but we’re sure Pieta House don’t see it that way as the Vistra teams surged past the rest to raise €1,280 for their chosen cause.

On the pitch, at a sun-soaked Spawell Powerleague, it was the teams from Flutter Commercial, Mason Hayes & Curran, MongoDB Celtic and Nostra who made it to the Champions League semi finals. The team from MHC were edged out by Flutter in the first semi final before MongoDB Celtic beat Nostra to set up a place in the final.

It was Flutter who secured the €800 donation for their chosen charity courtesy of a 2-1 win in the final. Guest speaker John Hartson identified Goncalo Cardoso as the key man in the final as his crucial stops scooped him the Player of the Match award.  The MongoDB team would take consolation in the fact they won a donation of €350 for the Peter McVerry Trust for their efforts.

Both teams secured their spots across the water at a National Final of their choice in either Glasgow or Leeds set to be held on Tuesday 18^th October and Thursday 20^th.

Meanwhile in the Europa League section teams from the National Lottery, Okta, CBRE and Linesight who were busy making their way to the semi finals where a further €300 was at stake.

It was the Money Bags National Lottery team who claimed the win courtesy of a 2-1 victory over CBRE as they secured a donation also for the Peter McVerry Trust.

In the individual awards it was Caolán Carroll who lifted the player of the tournament trophy for the Personio team as she had a standout performance on the pitch to lead her team to the Quarter finals of the ECL section where they were narrowly defeated on penalties by CSC Financial.

It was John Carroll from Flutter who claimed the top goal scorer award, with his 18 goals helping his Flutter Commercial team to the Europa Conference League final where they overcame Vistra in a thrilling affair to win another €100 for the Children’s Health Foundation.

After the football, teams enjoyed a drinks reception and buffet and were treated to some brilliant stories from former Wales, Celtic and Arsenal goal scorer John Hartson.

Business Fives will be back in Dublin for our 2022/23 Winter Season.